Back to Golden Days

Directed by Irving Rapper, Now, Voyager (1942) tells the story of Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis), an unattractive, overweight, repressed spinster whose life is brutally dominated by her tyrannical mother (Gladys Cooper), an aristocratic Boston dowager whose verbal and emotional abuse to her daughter has contributed to her lack of self-confidence. Fearing Charlotte is on the verge of a mental breakdown, her sister-in-law, Lisa (Ilka Chase), introduces her to psychiatrist Dr. Jaquith (Claude Rains), who recommends she spend some time in his sanatorium, Cascade. Under Jacquith's care, Charlotte regains some degree of self-confidence, improves her outward appearance, and treats herself to an ocean voyage to Brazil. Onboard the ship, she meets and falls in love with Jerry Durrance (Paul Henreid), an architect who is dutifully committed to an unhappy marriage for the sake of his young troubled daughter, Tina (Janis Wilson). Charlotte and Jerry have several romantic misadventures while ...

Directed by King Vidor, Stella Dallas (1937) tells the story of Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck), the daughter of a mill worker in a factory town in 1919 Massachusetts, who is determined to better herself. She sets her sights on Stephen Dallas (John Boles), a minor executive at the factory whose family was once wealthy, and catches him at an emotionally vulnerable time. Stephen has broken his engagement to his long-time sweetheart, Helen (Barbara O'Neil), fearing that his current lack of money and social position will hinder her. He planned to marry Helen once he was financially able to support her, but, as he reaches his goal, he learns that she is to wed another man. As a result, Stephen decides to marry Stella instead. After their daughter Laurel (Anne Shirley) is born, Stella becomes bored with her life and begins to exhibit social behaviour that Stephen finds unsuitable. He also strongly disapproves of her continuing friendship with the vulgar Ed Munn (Alan Hale). Meanwhile...