I was really drawn to this movie because the plot had a similar theme
to Winifred Holtby's "Anderby Wold" about a disillusioned woman who
wants more out of life than a quiet but dependable farmer can give her
but then realised that the writer was Warwick Deeping, a far more
conventional writer. Best known for the book "Sorrell and Son" which
was filmed three times, he was a best selling writer in the 1920s who,
even though he wrote about class structures etc fell out of favour
because of negative comments by up and coming writers like George
Orwell.
Ever since she was a child Mary Viner (Florence Vidor) has resented the boredom and drudgery of farm life, so when the local banker shows an interest in her, he makes a very compelling argument "flirt with the farmer but marry the banker"!! She is already in an understanding with Captain Furze (Gary Cooper) the lonely, taciturn owner of the run down Doomsday farm. He doesn't have time for societies' niceties, the farm takes all his effort and when Mary (who is already having doubts about how much work will be expected of her) is shown around the farm with the kitchen which has seen over 100 years of service, she feels it would take a small fortune to make the house habitable. And when she sees Furze point with pride to the wife of his farm man who is old and bent before her time, Mary can't get out of there quick enough!!
Furze has the answer - he is going to clear his beloved Doomsday forest to get the money to make the house fit for a Queen - but Mary has already married the wealthy banker!! Now the film takes a darker turn with several allusions to the fact that the marriage is unconsummated and Mary is seen only as a mannequin with her life an unending parade. Things come to a head on the night of a welcome home party - Mary has to openly defy her husband to rush to her father's side - but she is too late.
With a French divorce Mary now sets about trying to win back Furze's respect and love. She goes to work for him for six months as his house keeper - will she make the grade or be broken!!
There are some nice cinematographic touches by Henry W. Gerrard, especially in the scenes with the banker and his monocle - the audience sees that Mary is merely an exhibit and clotheshorse to him, she is living in a goldfish bowl!! Also scenes involving Gary Cooper and his smouldering eyes - it was a role perfect for him, not much acting required but giving his fans plenty of his seductive charisma!!
Ever since she was a child Mary Viner (Florence Vidor) has resented the boredom and drudgery of farm life, so when the local banker shows an interest in her, he makes a very compelling argument "flirt with the farmer but marry the banker"!! She is already in an understanding with Captain Furze (Gary Cooper) the lonely, taciturn owner of the run down Doomsday farm. He doesn't have time for societies' niceties, the farm takes all his effort and when Mary (who is already having doubts about how much work will be expected of her) is shown around the farm with the kitchen which has seen over 100 years of service, she feels it would take a small fortune to make the house habitable. And when she sees Furze point with pride to the wife of his farm man who is old and bent before her time, Mary can't get out of there quick enough!!
Furze has the answer - he is going to clear his beloved Doomsday forest to get the money to make the house fit for a Queen - but Mary has already married the wealthy banker!! Now the film takes a darker turn with several allusions to the fact that the marriage is unconsummated and Mary is seen only as a mannequin with her life an unending parade. Things come to a head on the night of a welcome home party - Mary has to openly defy her husband to rush to her father's side - but she is too late.
With a French divorce Mary now sets about trying to win back Furze's respect and love. She goes to work for him for six months as his house keeper - will she make the grade or be broken!!
There are some nice cinematographic touches by Henry W. Gerrard, especially in the scenes with the banker and his monocle - the audience sees that Mary is merely an exhibit and clotheshorse to him, she is living in a goldfish bowl!! Also scenes involving Gary Cooper and his smouldering eyes - it was a role perfect for him, not much acting required but giving his fans plenty of his seductive charisma!!