''Riptide'' is a 1934 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 Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

film starring

Norma Shearer Edith Norma Shearer (August 11, 1902June 12, 1983) was a Canadian-American actress who was active on film from 1919 through 1942. Shearer often played spunky, sexually liberated ingénues. She appeared in adaptations of Noël Coward, Eugene O'N ...

, Robert Montgomery and

Herbert Marshall Herbert Brough Falcon Marshall (23 May 1890 – 22 January 1966) was an English stage, screen and radio actor who starred in many popular and well-regarded Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. After a successful theatrical career in the Uni ...

, written and directed by

Edmund Goulding Edmund Goulding (20 March 1891 – 24 December 1959) was a British screenwriter and film director. As an actor early in his career he was one of the 'Ghosts' in the 1922 silent film ''Three Live Ghosts'' alongside Norman Kerry and Cyril Chadwick. ...

, and released by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...

. The film was released a few months before the

Production Code The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the United States from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the ...

was enforced. This film had a noteworthy appearance by Mrs. Patrick Campbell, a famous stage actress known for her friendship and correspondence with playwright

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

and her creation of Eliza Doolittle in Shaw's play ''Pygmalion''.The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: ''Riptide'' details
afi.com; accessed June 6, 2022.

Plot

In a hotel room at the Ritz, Lord Rexford (

) struggles with a bizarre insect man costume provided by his hostess for a ball on Long Island. He goes to pick up another guest, Mary (

), who is equally unhappy with her outfit, which conceals very little except her face. They agree to skip the party and meet at his place. They are captivated with each other at first sight and soon kiss. The kiss dissolves to their farewells as he prepares to sail to Europe, some time later. Their “beautiful spree”, she says, was “perfect”, something she will cherish all her life. He proposes, she refuses, and they kiss and part. The ship sails, and she prepares to write a message. He steps up behind her, having left everything aboard. He is serious about marriage. She asks if he is sure, after all she has told him about her past. He declares it is all forgiven. Five years later, Rexford must leave Mary in England while he travels on business to America. His “naughty” Aunt Hetty ( Mrs. Patrick Campbell) takes to Mary immediately, declaring that Mary has "vvvvvvvvvv vim", as she did in her youth. She invites Mary to join her at Cannes for “sunshine and laughter.” There Mary runs into an old acquaintance from New York, Tommie ( Robert Montgomery)—a charming, heavy-drinking playboy. Under the influence of several bottles of champagne, his love for Mary explodes into obsession; ardently pursuing her, he falls from a balcony at her hotel and nearly dies. The mad pursuit, the suggestion of attempted suicide, and the chaste kiss she gives him in his hospital room (caught by a pressman) create an international scandal. A Sunday Supplement wonders if Mary was one of Tommie's many mistresses in New York. Upon his return, Lord Rexford is furious, but conceals it. He refuses to believe Mary's truthful explanation, that Tommie kissed her and she fled, throwing up to her the fact that she became his lover after one kiss. Rexford remains cool, avoiding Mary, even waiting until she has left the nursery before entering to say goodnight to their young daughter. Seeking to escape the tension and loneliness at home, Mary accepts an invitation from her sister. Sylvia, to a nightspot. Rexford follows her, and, assuming that this is the way she usually spends her time, he tells her he is filing for divorce. Aunt Hetty and her crowd are there, and Tommie approaches Mary. Cut to Riversleigh Hall late at night, where a fire is being brought under control. Tommie is in Mary's room; several guests see them together. Meanwhile, in St. Moritz, Rexford's lawyer tells him that he thoroughly investigated the incident in Cannes and he has no case. Rexford sends a telegram begging Mary to come to him, signing it “All Love”. Aunt Hetty takes it over the phone, repeating every word. All her guests hear. Mary leaves for St. Moritz, telling Tommie she must end it with Rexford by telling him the truth. At the hotel, she is about to confess when Rexford gives her a letter of apology that moves her to tears. Their supposed reconciliation makes the papers, although Mary's guilt keeps her from a complete reunion.. Back in London, she is tormented by her efforts to protect Rexford, and Rexford is tormented by his jealousy. Tommie tells Rexford that he wants to marry Mary, and the truth comes out. This time she asks for the divorce, admitting that she still loves him. Mary plans to return to New York, refusing any settlement and sadly renouncing custody of her daughter. After dictating the final agreement, she refuses to say goodbye to her daughter, as a last meeting would be unbearable for her. Mary and Rexford struggle to say goodbye; then he declares they can't be parted. Their daughter bursts into the room and, to a phrase from the

Bridal Chorus The "Bridal Chorus" () from the 1850 opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a col ...

, Mary sweeps her up in her arms, landing on the sofa with the child in her lap. Rexford kisses Mary while their daughter watches.

Cast

- Lady Mary Rexford * Robert Montgomery - Tommie Trent *

- Lord Philip Rexford * Mrs. Patrick Campbell - Aunt Hetty Riversleigh *

Richard "Skeets" Gallagher Richard "Skeets" Gallagher (July 28, 1891 – May 22, 1955) was an American actor. He had blue eyes and his naturally blond hair was tinged with grey from the age of sixteen. Biography He was born on July 28, 1891 in Terre Haute, Indiana ...

- Erskine (*as Skeets Gallagher) *

Ralph Forbes Ralph Forbes (born Ralph Forbes Taylor; 30 September 1904 – 31 March 1951) was an English film and stage actor active in Britain and the United States. Early life Forbes was born in Wandsworth, London, the son of Ernest John "E.J." and Ethe ...

- David Fenwick *

Lilyan Tashman Lilyan Tashman (October 23, 1896 – March 21, 1934) was an American actress. Tashman was best known for her supporting roles as tongue-in-cheek villainesses or playing the vindictive "other woman". She made 66 films over the course of her ...

- Sylvia Wilson *

Arthur L. Jarrett Arthur L. Jarrett (February 5, 1884 – June 12, 1960) was an American screenwriter and film actor. He wrote for 70 films between 1932 and 1947. He also appeared in 12 films between 1914 and 1950. He was born in Marysville, California, firs ...

- Percy * Earl Oxford - Freddie Gray *

Helen Jerome Eddy Helen Jerome Eddy (February 25, 1897 – January 27, 1990) was a motion picture actress from New York City. She was noted as a character actress who played genteel heroines in films such as ''Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' (1917). Early years Edd ...

- Celeste *

George K. Arthur Arthur George Brest (27 January 1899 – 30 May 1985), known professionally as George K. Arthur, was an English actor and producer, born in Aberdeen, Scotland,. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1919 and 1935, and is best known as t ...

- Bertie Davis *

Halliwell Hobbes Herbert Halliwell Hobbes (16 November 187720 February 1962) was an English actor. Early years The future actor was the son of William Albert Hobbes (1841-1909), a Warwickshire solicitor, and his wife, Marion Hobbes, née Dennis, (1838-1925). ...

- Bollard *

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in '' Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky'' (1938), and '' The Westerner ...

- Chauffeur (uncredited)

Box office

The film grossed a total (domestic and foreign) of $1,741,000: $1,023,000 from the US and Canada and $718,000 elsewhere. It made a profit of $333,000.

References

External links

''Riptide'' at IMDB

Synopsis @ AllMovie
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Riptide 1934 films 1934 romantic drama films American black-and-white films American romantic drama films 1930s English-language films Films based on short fiction Films directed by Edmund Goulding Films scored by Herbert Stothart Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films set in London 1930s American films