Only Yesterday (1933)

Only Yesterday
Directed by John M. Stahl
Written by William Hurlburt, Arthur Richman and George O’Neill from a play by Frederick Lewis Allen
1933/USA
Universal Pictures
First viewing/YouTube

Perhaps I’ll get used to this bizarre place called Hollywood, but I doubt it. — Margaret Sullavan

This is an OK melodrama but more of interest as Margaret Sullavan’s screen debut.

Southern belle Mary Lane (Sullavan) has loved Jim Emerson (John Boles) from afar for years.  One fateful night he declares his love and they have what is to be a brief fling.  He is called up to service in WWI the next day.  She is left pregnant.  When he returns he does not even recognize her.  She decides to keep the child a secret.  He marries shortly thereafter.

Ten years later they meet again.  Jim, still oblivious, attempts another seduction …  With Bille Burke as Mary’s free-thinking aunt.

The plot has many similarities to Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948).  It is played for maximum pathos.  Sullavan started out strong and got even better when she had a chance to do comedy.

Montage of clips = beautifully done