Directed: Dorothy Arzner

Year: 1930

Nominated: Best Actress – Ruth Chatterton

Plot in 25 Words: A child custody disagreement in a world where apparently kidnapping barely registers. Women still have no rights and all rich children are spoiled to ruin.

In My Opinion: Yet another film unintentionally putting focus on the complete equality of the sexes. I know attitudes at the time were very different, but I still find it so hard to believe how little reaction there was. A drunken husband sold their baby. He sold their baby. Not gave him up for adoption with his wife’s blessing, he sold their baby! The police are no help and the general attitude seems to be ‘ah, you’ll be better off.’

And admittedly she is!

But ten or so years later she tries again to find her son and once she does I bet she wishes she hadn’t! A lifetime of luxury with his new rich parents has turned him into a spoiled brat.

The families involved all go to some pretty extreme and tricksy lengths to keep the whole affair covered up.

It just all seemed a touch unrealistic. And that’s coming from the girl who loves vampire TV shows and films about aliens!

The film was directed by an incredibly prolific woman director, Dorothy Arzner. To this day her body of work remains one of the largest by a woman. At first I was surprised a woman was able to be a film director at that time, and then I was surprised than a woman director would produce such a sexist piece of film. But I doubt she was allowed to produce anything but!

Star Performer: Philippe De Lacy as the stolen baby grown up. God, his spoiled ramblings made me want to sell him too!

Overall: Terrible film. not my cup of tea at all. Though well done to Hollywood for employing a woman to do more than make the tea.