The Virtuous Sin
Directed by George Cukor and Louis J. Glasier
Written by Martin Brown and Louise Long from a play by Lajos Zilahy
1930/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb Page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
“We seem to be unable to resist overstating every aspect of ourselves: how long we are on the planet for, how much it matters what we achieve, how rare and unfair are our professional failures, how rife with misunderstandings are our relationships, how deep are our sorrows. Melodrama is individually always the order of the day.” ― Alain de Botton, Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion
Well, everyone has to start somewhere, Mr. Cukor. Pity it had to be this overwrought melodrama.
The story takes place in Russia at the time of the country’s entry into World War I. Lt. Victor Sabin (Kenneth McKenna) is a genius medical researcher on the brink of great discoveries. Marya (Kay Francis) admires him greatly. He is in love with her and asks her to marry him. She agrees to a marriage in name only and will assist him in his research. The two are genuinely filled with love – the problem is that hers is platonic.
At precisely the wrong time, Victor gets called up to duty in the Russian Army. He does not want to do this and delays his arrival to post several times. General Gregori Platoff (Walter Huston) is severely displeased and demotes him to janitorial duties. Then Victor talks back and he is court martialed and sentenced to death.
Marya goes to his post to try to rescue him. The only person with authority to call off the execution is the General. He patronizes the local brothel so Marya gets a job there with the intention of seducing him. This works better than she expected. What will he do when he finds out he has been duped? What will Marya do when his passion overcomes her?
I never thought Walter Huston could give a bad performance but he manages it here. In fact, all the actors go over the top. The overwrought dialogue doesn’t help. Francis does rock her rather weird Russian attire, so there’s that. Very missable, though it did hold my interest for its hour and twenty minutes run time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAU1msXfqY0
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