''Devotion'' (1931) is an American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorshi ...

romantic drama film starring

Ann Harding Ann Harding (born Dorothy Walton Gatley; August 7, 1902 – September 1, 1981) was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress. A regular player on Broadway and in regional theater in the 1920s, in the 1930s Harding was ...

and

Leslie Howard Leslie Howard Steiner (3 April 18931 June 1943) was an English actor, director and producer.Obituary ''Variety'', 9 June 1943. He wrote many stories and articles for ''The New York Times'', ''The New Yorker'', and '' Vanity Fair'' and was one ...

based on the 1930 Pamela Wynne novel ''A Little Flat in the Temple''. Its plot involves a woman who disguises herself and gains employment in the home of the man she loves.

Plot

Shirley Mortimer is the second daughter of a wealthy

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

family, who view her as plain and treat her as little more than a servant. When her father's friend David Trent visits, she becomes smitten. Upon hearing that he and his son are in need of a new domestic, she disguises herself as an elderly matron, Mrs. Halifax, and begins to work for him. He is a defense attorney, currently defending a man, painter Norman Harrington, on the charge of murdering his wife. As Mrs. Halifax, Shirley wins the friendship of David's son and dotes on David, making sure he takes care of himself. David, for his part, begins to suspect that "Mrs. Halifax" is not who she claims. Harrington is acquitted, and upon meeting Mrs. Halifax asks to paint her portrait; while doing so, he realizes she is actually a young woman, but agrees to keep her secret. After spending an evening with Shirley (out of disguise) and her father, David realizes who "Mrs. Halifax" is, and reveals to Shirley that he has fallen in love with her. Before they can begin their romance, however, David's estranged wife returns; assuming the worst, Shirley angrily leaves. She becomes a model for Harrington, who soon professes his own feelings, but rather than ask her to marry him, merely proposes that they travel the world together with Shirley as his mistress. Twice hurt, Shirley returns to her family home and her servant-like life there. Both Harrington and David turn up at the Mortimer home; Harrington makes his plea, but upon hearing from David that he had not seen his wife for four years, and intends to swiftly divorce her, Shirley happily reunites with him.

Cast

as Shirley Mortimer *

as David Trent * Robert Williams as Norman Harrington *

O.P. Heggie Oliver Peters Heggie ( Otto Peters Heggie; 17 September 1877 – 7 February 1936), billed as O. P. Heggie, was an Australian film and theatre actor best known for portraying the hermit who befriends the Monster in the film ''Bride of Frankenstei ...

as Emmet Mortimer *

Louise Closser Hale Louise Closser Hale (October 13, 1872 – July 26, 1933) was an American actress, playwright, and novelist. Early life Louise Closser was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 13, 1872. Her father was Joseph Closser, a grain dealer, and her ...

as Mrs. Mortimer *

Dudley Digges Sir Dudley Digges (19 May 1583 – 18 March 1639) was an English diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1610 and 1629. Digges was also a "Virginia adventurer," an investor who ventured his capital in the Virginia ...

as Sergeant Herbert Coggins *

Alison Skipworth Alison Skipworth (born Alison Mary Elliott Margaret Groom; 25 July 18635 July 1952) was an English stage and screen actress. Early years Skipworth was born in London. She was the daughter of Dr. Richard Ebenezer Groom and Elizabeth Rodgers, an ...

as Mrs. Matilda Coggins *

Doris Lloyd Hessy Doris Lloyd (3 July 1891 – 21 May 1968) was an English–American film and stage actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in ''The Time Machine'' (1960) and ''The Sound of Music'' (1965). Lloyd appeared in two Academy Award w ...

as Pansy *

Olive Tell Olive Tell (September 27, 1894 – June 8, 1951) was a stage and screen actress from New York City. Biography Tell was educated in several cities in Europe. She and her younger actress sister Alma graduated from the American Academy of Dramati ...

as Mrs. Trent *

Claude King Claude King (February 5, 1923 – March 7, 2013) was an American country music singer and songwriter, best known for his million selling 1962 hit, "Wolverton Mountain". Biography King was born in Keithville in southern Caddo Parish south ...

as Arthur

Reception

According to RKO records the film lost $40,000 at the box office.

References

External links

* * * 1931 films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films Films based on British novels RKO Pictures films 1931 romantic drama films Films directed by Robert Milton Films set in London Films scored by Arthur Lange 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-romantic-drama-film-stub