In spite of a a few sparkling lines of dialogue, some great art direction and a future major star in a supporting role, this early talkie is worth going on with the wind. Somerset Maugham said he barely recognized any of his play "The Constant Wife" in it, but that could be perhaps because he fell asleep while watching it and miss them. Ruth Chatterton is the put upon occasional wife who discovers that her dull as a butter knife husband Clive Brook has a lady friend on the side (Mary Nolan), so she decides to have her own fling with sophisticated William Powell.
Two directors, including Dorothy Arzner were given the task of putting this early talkie together, but it obviously was edited by Humpty Dumpty's men who couldn't put the pieces back together again. Laura Hope Crews and Florence Eldridge have supporting roles, along with Montagu Love as Nolan'a husband. This indicates that the depression started because younger women were married to the most boring men around so the men having affairs was actually a good thing.
Brook was hampered by poor camera work, slow speaking and a square presentation, but was much better ironically later on. Chatterton manages to be sparkling in spite of the poor production values, even though she has horrible dialog regarding what kind of wife she wishes she could be. Powell may be considered the heavy, but he's much more well rounded than the staid, straight laced Brook whom the script asks the question, "Why him?" You can't blame all of this on early talking sound equipment because not all films from 1929 were like this. Only for the most obsessive of classic movie fans.
Two directors, including Dorothy Arzner were given the task of putting this early talkie together, but it obviously was edited by Humpty Dumpty's men who couldn't put the pieces back together again. Laura Hope Crews and Florence Eldridge have supporting roles, along with Montagu Love as Nolan'a husband. This indicates that the depression started because younger women were married to the most boring men around so the men having affairs was actually a good thing.
Brook was hampered by poor camera work, slow speaking and a square presentation, but was much better ironically later on. Chatterton manages to be sparkling in spite of the poor production values, even though she has horrible dialog regarding what kind of wife she wishes she could be. Powell may be considered the heavy, but he's much more well rounded than the staid, straight laced Brook whom the script asks the question, "Why him?" You can't blame all of this on early talking sound equipment because not all films from 1929 were like this. Only for the most obsessive of classic movie fans.