The Woman Between (1931)

A young man (Lester Vail) returns home after living in Europe and Africa for several years due to his estrangement from his father (O.P. Heggie) because of his disapproval of his father's remarriage. When he meets his father's second wife (Lili Damita), he is shocked to discover she is the woman he had a shipboard romance with on his voyage home. Directed by Victor Schertzinger (ROAD TO SINGAPORE), this early pre-code talkie sets up a daring premise that is rife with possibilities then proceeds to let it drag around. Characters wring their hands and suffer so when you just want them to get on with it. Though not based on a play, the film feels like a stage adaptation but that might be due to the stagnant camera and talky nature of the movie. It's not very visual. The acting is rather primitive but it's in keeping with the ultra melodramatics of the situation. I don't mean to be too hard on it, there are some effective moments. Also in the cast: Anita Louise, Miriam Seegar and Ruth Weston.