Many people today have no idea that films in the early 1930s were very sleazy--even sleazier in some cases as films today. While there was some rare nudity in these films, the saucy content is what really surprises! Imagine....many of these pictures had gay characters, premarital sex was okay, abortion was not unheard of AND adultery was occasionally romanticized....such as in "The Life of Vergie Winters".
When the film begins, John Shadwell (John Boles) had just married Laura. This is a bit of a surprise, as John had been dating Vergie (Ann Harding) and you assume he married as he did because Laura would be more beneficial to his political aspirations. Later, you learn that his family paid off Vergie's father to break off the relationship...again, because Vergie isn't the ideal congressman's wife. So how do John and Vergie deal with this? They have a lifelong affair...and Vergie seems like a giant doormat. She expects nothing and takes nothing from John (other than his.....) and when she becomes pregnant with his baby, she gives it to John and Laura to raise. Eventually, she and John get old and John assumes room temperature...and the movie ends.
I guess I am just a very conservative guy when it comes to marriage and a film glamorizing adultery and excusing it just doesn't appeal to me. The film is well acted but is also very schmaltzy and dull.
When the film begins, John Shadwell (John Boles) had just married Laura. This is a bit of a surprise, as John had been dating Vergie (Ann Harding) and you assume he married as he did because Laura would be more beneficial to his political aspirations. Later, you learn that his family paid off Vergie's father to break off the relationship...again, because Vergie isn't the ideal congressman's wife. So how do John and Vergie deal with this? They have a lifelong affair...and Vergie seems like a giant doormat. She expects nothing and takes nothing from John (other than his.....) and when she becomes pregnant with his baby, she gives it to John and Laura to raise. Eventually, she and John get old and John assumes room temperature...and the movie ends.
I guess I am just a very conservative guy when it comes to marriage and a film glamorizing adultery and excusing it just doesn't appeal to me. The film is well acted but is also very schmaltzy and dull.