The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934 film)
- Norma Shearer: Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- Fredric March: Robert Browning
- Charles Laughton: Edward Moulton - Barrett
- Maureen O'Sullivan: Henrietta Barrett
- Katharine Alexander: Arabel Barrett
- Ralph Forbes: Captain Surtees Cook
- Marion Clayton Anderson: Bella Hedley
- Ferdinand Munier: Dr. Chambers
- Una O'Connor: Wilson
- Leo G. Carroll: Dr. Ford - Waterlow
- Vernon Downing: Octavius Barrett
- Neville Clark: Charles Barrett
- Matthew Smith: George Barrett
- Robert Carleton: Alfred Barrett
The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a romantic drama film by Sidney Franklin from 1934 about the love relationship between the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning and the poet and playwright Robert Browning.
Action
London in 1845: The 40-year old poet Elizabeth Barrett sickly lives together with her six brothers and two sisters with her widowed father Edward. He has his daughters to marry banned because he holds love for sin, and ruled tyrannically in the household. The letter Contact Elizabeth with the poet Robert Browning, he only accepted because he believes in a purely professional exchange of ideas between the two. When Robert visited one day Elizabeth, admits of his love for her, but rejects Elizabeth.
Three months later, Elizabeth's health has improved considerably, which leads them back to the love confession Roberts. On the advice of the doctors she should spend the winter in Italy, where a random manner will also stop Robert, but the journey is forbidden by her father. Robert makes her a proposal of marriage, to Elizabeth but objects in terms of their poor health. It was only when she realizes that her father secretly wants to buy a property in Surrey, to separate it from Robert and remove themselves from the love of her sister Henriette to Captain Surtees Cook, Elizabeth accepts the proposal of marriage Roberts. Already on the following night flee Elizabeth and Robert to Italy - her dog, the Edward wants to kill in fury, Elizabeth has with him. A short time later, the marriage between Elizabeth and Robert takes place.
Background
The Barretts of Wimpole Street was created based on the eponymous play by Rudolph Besier.
Director Franklin filmed the story again in 1957 under the same title with the same settings and dialogues. Starring this time were, among others, John Gielgud and Sam Zimbalist. Art director of this remake was Alfred Young.
Awards
At the Academy Awards in 1935, the film was nominated in both the Best Picture category as well as best actress Norma Shearer. The year before producer Thalberg the Photoplay Award was able to receive for the best film.
Criticism
Variety called the film at the beginning ("slow " ), the act is built up slowly and have difficulties to really pique the interest of the viewer. In the end, however, he only tie the viewer. Throughout the film is dominated by long speech phases.