The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934)

The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Directed by Sidney Franklin
Written by Ernest Vajda, Colleen West, and Donald Ogden Stewart from a play by Rudolph Besler
1934/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/FilmStruck

[box] Robert Browning: I am prepared to risk your life, much more my own, to get you out of that dreadful house and into the sun and to have you for my wife.[/box]

This rather pedestrian story of the romance between two  poets is enlivened by the performance of Charles Laughton as a tyrannical father.

Widower Edward Moulton-Barrett (Laughton) runs his household of twelve children like Captain Bligh ruled the Bounty.  His eldest daughter Elizabeth (Norma Shearer) is bedridden by some mysterious malady aided by the overprotective father.  All the children live in fear of Edward.  In particular, the three girls are not allowed to keep company with men.  An exception is made for Elizabeth’s correspondence and meetings with fellow poet Robert Browning (Fredric March).  Sister Henrietta (Maureen O’Sullivan) must see her beloved from a distance or in secret.

The relationship between Robert and Elizabeth blossoms into love and the formerly placid Elizabeth somehow finds the courage to defy her father.  With Una O’Connor as Elizabeth’s maid.

The acting of the two lovers is overearnest and involves a lot of wistful posing especially on the part of Shearer.   Whenever Laughton enters the scene, however, his icy hauteur causes viewers to take notice.  The production values are excellent, as can always be expected from an MGM costume drama of this era.

The Barretts of Wimpole Street was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Picture and Best Actress.

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