The melodramatic leanings of East Lynne become increasingly wild as the film progresses. I’ve watched a lot of pre-Code films, especially in recent years, but I’ve never seen one that has such an unhinged ending as this one. It’s based upon a Victorian novel by Ellen Wood (as Mrs. Henry Wood, of course), but it’s taken considerable liberties with that book’s plot. I don’t think this is truly an Oscar-caliber film, but I cannot deny that it becomes increasing more watchable if for no other reason that you’re curious as to what crazy plot twist lies ahead. Since you’re unlikely to be able to find this film easily, I may spend too much time providing plot summary, but I think that will give you a clear sense of just how bonkers it is.
A beautiful young woman, Isabella (Ann Harding, who was having a good year at the movies), marries a rich man named Roger Carlyle (the great Conrad Nagel) and moves into his estate, East Lynne. On her first day at his austere, gloomy house, she meets Cornelia, Roger’s sister, a control freak of the first order. Cornelia (played with great malice by Cecilia Loftus) even refused to attend Isabella and Roger’s wedding because she thinks Isabella is too young and frivolous. Cornelia wanted Roger to marry a neighbor girl, Barbara, who she thinks is more “suitable” for her brother. Needless to say, that attitude doesn’t bode well for the marriage if Cornelia is going to live in the same house with them and continue overseeing every aspect of life at East Lynne, and that’s just what happens.
Three years pass quickly, and Isabella’s life has changed a great deal. She’s wearing drab clothing now instead of the beautiful, fashionable gowns she brought to the estate. The house is just as dark and dreary as ever; Cornelia doesn’t like open windows and sunshine — it’s bad for the carpet, I guess, or perhaps the light would cause her to burst into flames. Isabella and Roger have a son, but Cornelia doesn’t like him to play because he sometimes tears his clothes. You know, like a child sometimes does when they’re having fun. Cornelia has also cancelled Isabella’s orders for new clothes for herself and her son. Money for fashionable clothing is a waste in her mind.
Then “the incident” occurs. While Roger is out of town, Isabella and Cornelia plan to attend a party. Unfortunately, on the day of the event, Cornelia develops a convenient headache. The prospect of having a good time must have been devastating to her. Isabella decides to go anyway, accompanied by a former suitor of hers (played by handsome Clive Brook). After the party, Brooks’ Captain William Levenson escorts Isabella home, professes his love for her, and even kisses her. Nothing else happens between them, and she goes to sleep by herself. I mean, it was the 1930s, so nothing much more than that could have been shown anyway.
Cornelia waits until the return of her brother to share what she thinks happened between Isabella and William, and Roger becomes accusatory very quickly. Isabella yells at them both – a rare moment of strength for her at this point in the film – and calls them and the house “old and drab,” not the most inaccurate statement, to be fair. She leaves the house, but Roger won’t let her take her child. She’s heartbroken over this but decides to leave for France to get away from all of the gossip in England. She’s become such a scandalous figure that even in France, people from England won’t talk to her in public.
It’s the portion in France that throws the plot into melodramatic overdrive. Capt. Levinson is on the same ship going to Calais, and he suggests that they have a good time in Europe. She agrees and doesn’t even demand that they marry at some point. Levinson gets kicked out of the British Army for some vague reason having to do with the Franco-Prussian War. Was he helping the French? Was he hurting them? Who knows? Who cares? Does it matter? He gets sent to Paris, which seems an odd thing for the Army to demand of him, and she goes with him. The war has gotten worse, so they cannot leave the country and return to England despite her desire to see her son again.
During an argument between Isabella and William about returning home, they both run into the street just as a bomb hits a building near them. It falls on them, and her injuries include a loss of eyesight. In fact, she may lose her full sight. That’s when she finds out her son is ill, and she makes it back to England against the doctor’s advice. Joyce, the maid who served her many years ago, lets her into the house and lets her sit with her son overnight. Isabella loses her remaining eyesight during the night after getting to see her son one last time. Carlyle throws her out of his house, and Joyce (a delightful Beryl Mercer) finally tells him off about how he abandoned a woman who loved him unconditionally and was the victim of Cornelia’s lies. It’s just a bit late for justice, though.
The dramatic end to this nonsense? Isabella walks out of East Lynne and, no longer able to see, walks off a cliff just as Roger tries to catch up to her! The plots in those days could really provide an ending, couldn’t they?
Harding, who was nominated in the same year for her performance in Holiday (but didn’t win) is quite competent here. Her best moment is when the film gives us a closeup of her face as she’s listening to a melancholy song. It’s clear that the song is raising so many emotions, and she lets us have a momentary look inside.
I have to mention the quality of the version that I watched. The sound and picture were quite awful, and it is tough to see what was so appealing about this film in 1931. The only complete print seems to be at the University of California at Los Angeles, but it too is apparently pretty bad. The film will be in the public domain in 2027, but there are plenty of bootleg copies out there, including the one that I watched. Many of these copies, though, don’t include the last reel with Isabella’s return to England. Interestingly, the version I have does include the full ending, but it looks like someone recorded it off a television screening of the film. That somehow seems a fitting way to view this film.
Oscar Nomination: Outstanding Production
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