Back Street (1941)

At the turn of the 20th century in small town America, a young woman (Margaret Sullavan) meets a young banker (Charles Boyer). They fall in love but through circumstances beyond their control are parted. Five years later, they meet again in New York City and even though he's now married, she becomes his mistress for the next 25 years. Directed by Robert Stevenson (MARY POPPINS), this second of the three film versions of the Fannie Hurst (IMITATION OF LIFE) novel is difficult to watch using contemporary mores and sensibilities. Sullavan's character seems to have no identity apart from her "career" as a mistress. I realize this is supposed to be very romantic, the idea of a woman so in love that she waits around for years for the man to make time for her and she's grateful for it! But the temptation to yell at her, "Dump him! Find someone who'll treat you right" is powerful. The 1961 remake remedied some of this by having the wife a shrew who wouldn't give him a divorce. Here, the wife is only briefly seen and doesn't know about the back street affair. Fortunately, Margaret Sullavan is one of those actresses with such a likable screen persona and presence that she makes a lot of the objections moot. The Oscar nominated score is by Frank Skinner who would do a much better score for the 1961 remake. With Tim Holt, Richard Carlson, Frank McHugh, Dorothy Adams and Esther Dale.