The novel by Margaret Kennedy had been filmed as a silent version when it made the first of two talking versions, this one a British film that is nearly forgotten. The 1943 remake in spite of an Oscar nomination for its leading lady Is also pretty much forgotten in spite of the fact that it was one of Warner Brothers most celebrated films of the time. Ironically, Joan Fontaine who got the Academy Award nomination ended up being married to Brian Aherne who plays the male lead in this version.
The Fontaine role here is played by Victoria Hopper, a pretty and charming waif like girl who perfectly expresses the sweetness and unintentional temptress of the leading character, a girl who retains her chastity in spite of the fact that she is desperately in love with the leading male character, an acclaimed composer. He considers her a special friend, but ends up marrying Leonora Corbett, a more socially acceptable lady (but very ill-tempered and spoiled) who when she realizes the truth about her husband's real feelings confronts Hopper in a nasty scene.
This has fabulous Alps scenery, particularly in the opening reels when Hopper and her sisters are living there with her widowed father, Lyn Harding, and in the second half of the film, those are replaced by some glorious symphonic segments where the original compositions of its leading character are heard. These musical moments are made to underplay the drama between the two leads and the nasty cousin, a variation of what I would presume Daphne Dumaurier's character of Rebecca would be and look like. Corbett even looks like Alexis Smith who played that part in the remake.
While this is not the most exciting of romantic dramas, it is well made with the technical excellence that British Cinema managed to achieve before American cinema did. The cast is rounded out by some well known British character players, and the direction by Basil Dean is very good as well. So I recommend this highly for the leading performances, the fantastic photography and of course that superb beautiful music that really does draw you into Hopper's character's tragedies.
The Fontaine role here is played by Victoria Hopper, a pretty and charming waif like girl who perfectly expresses the sweetness and unintentional temptress of the leading character, a girl who retains her chastity in spite of the fact that she is desperately in love with the leading male character, an acclaimed composer. He considers her a special friend, but ends up marrying Leonora Corbett, a more socially acceptable lady (but very ill-tempered and spoiled) who when she realizes the truth about her husband's real feelings confronts Hopper in a nasty scene.
This has fabulous Alps scenery, particularly in the opening reels when Hopper and her sisters are living there with her widowed father, Lyn Harding, and in the second half of the film, those are replaced by some glorious symphonic segments where the original compositions of its leading character are heard. These musical moments are made to underplay the drama between the two leads and the nasty cousin, a variation of what I would presume Daphne Dumaurier's character of Rebecca would be and look like. Corbett even looks like Alexis Smith who played that part in the remake.
While this is not the most exciting of romantic dramas, it is well made with the technical excellence that British Cinema managed to achieve before American cinema did. The cast is rounded out by some well known British character players, and the direction by Basil Dean is very good as well. So I recommend this highly for the leading performances, the fantastic photography and of course that superb beautiful music that really does draw you into Hopper's character's tragedies.
