The Shopworn Angel (1938)

Set during WWI, a naive Texas cowboy (James Stewart) in the Army will soon be shipped overseas. He meets a sophisticated Broadway actress (Margaret Sullavan), who while in love with another man (Walter Pidgeon), strings him along out of kindness while he falls in love. Based on the short story PRIVATE PETTIGREW'S GIRL by Dana Burnet which had been filmed twice previously (1919,1928) and directed by H.C. Potter (THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER). The first two versions were pre-code so this had to be cleaned up a bit from its sexual elements. The story has a lot of tenderness and charm and if it had gone with a more realistic ending instead of the tear jerking Hollywood ending, it would have been more satisfying. As it is, the ending is a cop out but the movie was a hit so I guess it was okay with 1938 audiences. In a rare glamorous role, Sullavan looks lovely and fortunately she has the ability of making the most awkward lines (and they are a lot of them) sound natural and, of course, she and Stewart have a proven chemistry. With Hattie McDaniel in one of her best roles, Sam Levene, Virginia Grey and Nat Pendleton.