How did this Goldwyn production ever sneak past the Hays Office? It's a frank drama of a once-wealthy but now-bankrupt New York family, still living in a Fifth Avenue mansion, whose hopes are pinned on son Joel McCrea's marrying a wealthy girl he doesn't love. Instead he returns from a Southern journey with impoverished bride Miriam Hopkins, who's snubbed by the family, and who captivates a wealthy cousin, Paul Cavanagh, who will hire and overpay McCrea if she'll sleep with him. It's quite frank about that, and to watch Hopkins balance pride, guilt, and ambivalence is a pre-Code-like treat, though she does tend toward the actressy, self-serving side. Helen Westley, often one-dimensional, is a multilayered and quite frightening monster-mother, alternately loving and manipulating her children, who also include a young David Niven, here an entertaining wastrel, who has a British accent and we don't know where it came from. It's elegantly produced and quite well directed by Elliott Nugent,also an actor, who usually wasn't this comfortable in the director's chair. Quite an eye-opener, and, though the contemporary reviews weren't good, quite entertaining today.
6 Reviews
my, my, this slipped through the Hayes office
blanche-216 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Joel McCrea and Miriam Hopkins star in the 1935 "Splendor" also starring Helen Westley, Paul Cavanagh, Billie Burke, and David Niven.
The Larrimore family lives in a luxury New York City mansion - you know, the kind that were turned into museums later -- but they're broke. The matriarch (Westley) is desperate for her son Brighton (McCrea) to marry a woman he's seen from time to time who has so much money she doesn't know how to spend it. However, Brighton comes home married to Phyllis, and she's not rich. The family resents her and makes her feel uncomfortable.
The elder Mrs. Larrimore decides on another tack. She puts Phyllis into events involving her smooth cousin Martin (Cavanagh), a sleaze. He gives Brighton a job, but in order for Brighton to move up, Phyllis is going to have to come across. She refuses.
When she realizes how much Brighton's self-esteem depends upon being sent on an important business trip, she gives in.
I can understand the story getting through the Hayes office, but normally with the Code, the miscreant would have to pay for her infidelity. In "The Rains Came," Myrna Loy croaks because she was cheating on her husband. That's just one example.
So-so film, very much of its time. One person reviewing on this site said David Niven had a "British accent and we don't know where it came from." Back then, upper class people spoke with quasi-British accents, better known as Mid-Atlantic speech. Examples being Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, and many others.
Miriam Hopkins is very good if a little on the stagy side. Joel McCrea was a real hunk and an appealing actor. David Niven is the playboy son always mooching money from Phyllis once Brighton had a job. He's ideal in the role.
The Larrimore family lives in a luxury New York City mansion - you know, the kind that were turned into museums later -- but they're broke. The matriarch (Westley) is desperate for her son Brighton (McCrea) to marry a woman he's seen from time to time who has so much money she doesn't know how to spend it. However, Brighton comes home married to Phyllis, and she's not rich. The family resents her and makes her feel uncomfortable.
The elder Mrs. Larrimore decides on another tack. She puts Phyllis into events involving her smooth cousin Martin (Cavanagh), a sleaze. He gives Brighton a job, but in order for Brighton to move up, Phyllis is going to have to come across. She refuses.
When she realizes how much Brighton's self-esteem depends upon being sent on an important business trip, she gives in.
I can understand the story getting through the Hayes office, but normally with the Code, the miscreant would have to pay for her infidelity. In "The Rains Came," Myrna Loy croaks because she was cheating on her husband. That's just one example.
So-so film, very much of its time. One person reviewing on this site said David Niven had a "British accent and we don't know where it came from." Back then, upper class people spoke with quasi-British accents, better known as Mid-Atlantic speech. Examples being Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, and many others.
Miriam Hopkins is very good if a little on the stagy side. Joel McCrea was a real hunk and an appealing actor. David Niven is the playboy son always mooching money from Phyllis once Brighton had a job. He's ideal in the role.
A young man feeling incredible obligations towards a worthless family....and its impact on his new bride.
planktonrules27 January 2019
The Lorrimore family was once a wealthy and well respected family. However, over the generations the money has dwindled away....and the family's sense of self-respect has gone along with it. No one works in this family...they just keep hoping for some miracle. One son,played by the VERY ill-cast David Niven*, is a graduate of Oxford...yet has zero inclination to work. So, the family just expects Brighton (Joel McCrea) to be the sole bread-winner to support the entire family. This is complicated when he returns home with a new wife, Phyllis (Miriam Hopkins), as she's poor...and they were hoping Brighton would marry a rich woman! If it sounds as if these are worthless people...well, you get the idea of the picture! And, at first, Phyllis tries her best to help Brighton with his career...but ultimately this could mean prostituting herself to get him a prime job...something this worthless family seems to have no trouble accepting. What's to become of Phyllis and his doomed marriage?
The acting is good in this one...and Hopkins is much better than normal. The only negative is the family is just too awful, too selfish to make the film enjoyable to watch. Still, it is worth seeing if you are patient.
*everyone in the family speaks American English...except for Niven who simply sounds British all the way...which makes no sense..whether he went to college at Oxford or not!
The acting is good in this one...and Hopkins is much better than normal. The only negative is the family is just too awful, too selfish to make the film enjoyable to watch. Still, it is worth seeing if you are patient.
*everyone in the family speaks American English...except for Niven who simply sounds British all the way...which makes no sense..whether he went to college at Oxford or not!
Miriam Hopkins Is Excellent
drednm21 March 2006
Miriam Hopkins continues to climb my list of favorite 30s actresses.... SPLENDOR is a terrific, hard-hitting drama about a once wealthy family of leaches who pin their hopes of son (Joel McCrea) marrying money. Instead, he marries penniless Hopkins.
To further McCrea's chances in business, the mother (Helen Westley) encourages Hopkins to be nice to wealthy cousin (Paul Cavanaugh). Hopkins also has to put up with sour sister (Katherine Alexander) and frivolous brother (David Niven) as they all leach off McCrea's newfound success.
But it all comes to a crash when the cousin will only keep McCrea on if Hopkins will sleep with him. Later, when she having great guilt the family offers to forgive her if only she will not tell McCrea. Crash! Hopkins is luminous. All the acting is terrific, especially Westley as the greedy matriarch who won't give up any single comfort. Billie Burke, Arthur Treacher, Ivan Simpson, Torben Meyer, and Ruth Weston (excellent as Edith) co-star.
To further McCrea's chances in business, the mother (Helen Westley) encourages Hopkins to be nice to wealthy cousin (Paul Cavanaugh). Hopkins also has to put up with sour sister (Katherine Alexander) and frivolous brother (David Niven) as they all leach off McCrea's newfound success.
But it all comes to a crash when the cousin will only keep McCrea on if Hopkins will sleep with him. Later, when she having great guilt the family offers to forgive her if only she will not tell McCrea. Crash! Hopkins is luminous. All the acting is terrific, especially Westley as the greedy matriarch who won't give up any single comfort. Billie Burke, Arthur Treacher, Ivan Simpson, Torben Meyer, and Ruth Weston (excellent as Edith) co-star.
family dynamics
ksf-218 March 2021
Another Miriam Hopkins, Joel McCrae film ! when the son Brighton (McCrae) brings home new wife Phyllis (Hopkins), the family is disappointed, and take it out on them. They had wanted him to marry Edit (Ruth Weston) , who had too much money and would have solved all their problems. David Niven is Clancey. Paul Cavanagh is the interloper. Billie Burke (Mrs. Ziegfeld Jr, who will be "Glinda, the good witch" in Wizard of Oz! ) is Clarissa. Mama Lorrimore is so mean to Phyllis, it's amazing Phyllis sticks around. they are all tested when they go out of town. can Brighton make his own way, or will his own family mess up his chances with success, as well as his marriage? filmed at Big Bear and Arrowhead, just like Richest Girl. it's okay. the depression was just about done, and we were years away from another world war. directed by Elliot Nugent. probably his biggest films were Gatsby and Male Animal. started out as a play by Rachel Crothers, who wrote TONS of things along the way.
Daring Drama for Post-Code 1935
sobaok19 November 2002
I sat stunned at the story-line for this film. It goes into emotional-romantic territory usually associated with pre-code films. Miriam Hopkins plays a young woman of great integrity who marries into a family of blue-bloods who's financial resources have all but drained. Joel McCrea, plays the loyal son to Helen Westley's controlling mother. His initial concern with his family's "prestige" puts his and Miriam's dreams and plans at bay. What follows is pretty risky business for a film in 1935. Westley is frightening and compelling as the controlling mother-in-law. All performances are top-notch. The challenges for Hopkins as an actress and the character she plays are believable and "she holds her own." A very unusual film that belongs in any film buffs collection.
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