Ever in My Heart

Dir. Archie Mayo

68 Minutes

USA

1933

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Otto Kruger, Ralph Bellamy, Ruth Donnelly, Laura Hope Crews, Frank Albertson

***/*****

Middle film of three Stanwyck/Archie Mayo pre-code collaborations (the other two being Illicit and Gambling Lady), with this being the most melodramatic of the lot. Stanwyck's Mary marries Otto Kruger's Hugo after falling instantly in love (much to the disappointment of Ralph Bellamy's Jeff, who has loved her for a long time). Their blissful marriage, including the arrival of a son and Hugo becoming a citizen, becomes troubled at the onset of World War I and Hugo becomes ostracized by the country that had been taking him in.

The pleasures of this film really from the chemistry between Stanwyck and Kruger, which is pretty good. And the film is never dull, with a nice variety of situations in its barely 70 minute running time. It is also heavily musical, with much of the film devoted to various songs of celebration, patriotism, and pride. But Mayo is not a particularly good stylist (as also noted in viewings of the aforementioned collaborations in the same day), and much of his visual scheme feels more suited to the stage than to the screen. And the narrative eventually goes too much into schmaltz, with the climax feeling unnaturally dark compared to the build-up. And, outside of Wellman, Stanwyck is not nearly as fun to watch in a sentimental role than she is in more biting roles like Baby Face or Ladies They Talk Aboiut. But a passable effort, and probably the best of her Mayo directed films.

August 17th, 2019