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''Passion Flower'' is a 1930 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 ...
drama film directed and produced by
William C. deMille William Churchill deMille (July 25, 1878 – March 5, 1955), also spelled de Mille or De Mille, was an American screenwriter and film director from the silent film era through the early 1930s. He was also a noted playwright prior to moving into ...
and starring
Kay Francis Kay Francis (born Katharine Edwina Gibbs; January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. After a brief period on Broadway in the late 1920s, she moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 an ...
,
Kay Johnson Catherine Townsend Johnson (November 29, 1904 – November 17, 1975) was an American stage and film actress. Family Johnson was born in Mount Vernon, New York. Her father was architect Thomas R. Johnson, who worked in the firm of Cass Gil ...
and
Charles Bickford Charles Ambrose Bickford (January 1, 1891 – November 9, 1967) was an American actor known for supporting roles. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943), '' The ...
in a romantic triangle. This production includes actor
Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985. He is remembered for his Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival Award-winning ...
's American screen debut, although his appearance as a party guest is uncredited.Milland, Ray. ''Wide-eyed in Babylon''. New York: Morrow, 1974, pp. 124-126.


Plot

Wealthy socialite Dulce Morado is close to her cousin, Katherine ("Cassy") Pringle. One day, Cassy tells Dulce that she has fallen in love with Dan, the family chauffeur. Cassy's furious father, Leroy, kicks her out of the house. Dulce opens her home to the couple so they can marry the next day. Dulce and her much older husband, Tony, purchase a small farm as a wedding present for Cassy and Dan. However, Dan's pride will not allow him to take what he considers to be a handout. Dan and Cassy head into the city where they rent a small attic apartment in a boarding house run by Mrs. Harney. It is not much, but Cassy tells Dan that she is happy. Dan quickly finds a job down at the docks. The film flashes forward to their fifth wedding anniversary. They have two children, a toddler named Tommy and an infant girl, Margaret. Dan has been promoted to assistant foreman, but times are still tough and they still live in the attic. Dulce is visiting when Mrs. Harney tells them that a young boy who lived in the building has died after being hit by a truck. The boy was a playmate of Tommy's. Dulce questions why Cassy and Dan will not just accept the ranch, which she has kept for them. Cassy wants to go, but she feels that Dan is still too proud. Meanwhile, Dan loses his job. When he goes home, he and Dulce get into a brief argument. Later though, Dan looks at Tommy sleeping in his highchair and has a change of heart. They move to the ranch. Mrs. Harney comes with them as their housekeeper. From the very first day, Tony pays attention to the exchanges between Dulce and Dan. He suspects there may be more to that relationship than the two are letting on. The family settles in to ranch life, but eventually Dulce and Dan share an intimate moment. Tony finds out. He implores his wife to not break up Cassie and Dan's marriage. Dulce gets upset and asks Tony why she cannot have some happiness in her life. Dulce and Dan consider running away together, but Dan is torn. He finally goes to Dulce's house to end the relationship. At the same time, Cassy receives a phone call that her father is very ill. She goes to Dulce's place to ask for a ride to the ferry. Unseen, she sees Dan and Dulce kissing through the glass door. After he leaves to get the car, Cassy confronts Dulce. Dulce begs Cassy to forgive her, but Cassy will not hear it. In the car, Dan also confesses to Cassy what happened. Cassy is devastated; she kicks Dan out of the house. The film cuts to Dulce and Dan hosting a raucous party. A letter from Cassy arrives. In it, Cassy says, "I can't be proud any longer, dear. If you ever want to come back to us, there is nothing I can't forgive and forget." When Dulce finds out, she asks Dan if he has been happy with her. He says he has, but he cannot go on like this "indefinitely - playing around like we do". He wants to get a job and be useful. They return by ship. While on board, Dulce receives a telegram that Tony has died. She tells Dan, "We can be married now." But Dan is still torn. A few weeks after their return, he still has not made any move to divorce Cassy. Dulce goes and sees Cassy herself. Dulce tells Dan that Cassy has agreed to the divorce, but requests Dan ask her for it himself. Dan arrives at the ranch to find his children playing outside. Tommy is excited to see his father and runs to him, but Margaret does not know who he is. The three go inside, and Dan and Cassy talk. Suddenly, Dulce arrives. They argue, but eventually, Dulce realizes she has lost and leaves.


Cast

*
Kay Francis Kay Francis (born Katharine Edwina Gibbs; January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. After a brief period on Broadway in the late 1920s, she moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 an ...
as Dulce Morado *
Kay Johnson Catherine Townsend Johnson (November 29, 1904 – November 17, 1975) was an American stage and film actress. Family Johnson was born in Mount Vernon, New York. Her father was architect Thomas R. Johnson, who worked in the firm of Cass Gil ...
as Katherine Pringle Wallace *
Charles Bickford Charles Ambrose Bickford (January 1, 1891 – November 9, 1967) was an American actor known for supporting roles. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943), '' The ...
as Dan Wallace *
Winter Hall Winter Hall (21 June 1872 – 10 February 1947) was a New Zealand actor of the silent era who later appeared in sound films. He performed in more than 120 films between 1916 and 1938. Prior to that, he had a career as a stage actor in Austr ...
as Leroy Pringle *
Lewis Stone Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio's popular '' Andy ...
as Antonio Morado *
ZaSu Pitts Zasu Pitts (; January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) was an American actress who starred in many silent dramas, including Erich von Stroheim's epic 1924 silent film ''Greed'', and comedies, transitioning successfully to mostly comedy films with the ...
as Mrs. Harney * Dickie Moore as Tommy *
Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985. He is remembered for his Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival Award-winning ...
as party guest (uncredited)


Reception

''New York Times'' critic
Mordaunt Hall Mordaunt Hall (1 November 1878 – 2 July 1973) was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for ''The New York Times'', working from October 1924 to September 1934.


References


External links

* * * * {{William C. deMille
1930 films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films Films based on American novels Films directed by William C. deMille 1930 romantic drama films 1930s American films