Review of The Wedding Night

Gary Cooper and Anna Sten, an actress I'm not too familiar with, star in this romantic tale called "The Wedding Night." Complications arise right away when we open on Gary Cooper, married to Helen Vinson. Gary is an author who's written several books, but they have gotten progressively worse and his latest his publisher won't publish. With literally no money to their name, they decide to leave New York and go to a country house he owns in Connecticut on farmland. Neighbors Sig Ruman and daughter Anna Sten drop by to make an offer to buy the fields from him. Desperately needing the money, he accepts and talks his wife into going back to New York, because she never liked the place and loves the bustle of New York. With no else around save for a cook, Anna Sten feels a little sorry for him and starts coming around, and when the cook leaves, she starts making him breakfast. With all this time spent together, they begin to have feelings for each other. But, she is engaged to Ralph Bellamy, kind of, that is, as father has been arranging it for some time. But she doesn't love him. Such begins a no win situation. What begins as a very romantic and involving film turns into tragedy I didn't see coming. Granted, Gary was already married. But really this gets bad! No one's happy at the end. A very enjoyable and well made film is marred by an abrupt ending. Even Helen Vinson is especially good as the wronged wife, who gives one of her best performances, aside from Paul Muni's film, "I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang." You'll love this film, like I did - up to the last minute, but be prepared for a downbeat ending.