Anthony Adverse (1936)

Anthony Adverse (1936)

Directed by Irving G. Thalberg winner Mervyn LeRoy with a screenplay by Sheridan Gibney (The Story of Louis Pasteur (1937)) based on the Hervey Allen novel this film won Gale Sondergaard her only Oscar the first Supporting Actress award given in her film debut; Cinematographer Tony Gaudio also won his only Oscar; editor Ralph Dawson won his second of three Oscars and the Score also won. The film also received three other nominations including for Best Picture. It stars Fredric March in the title role and also Olivia de Havilland Donald Woods Anita Louise Edmund Gwenn Claude Rains Akim Tamiroff and Henry O’Neill among others.

Rains gives his wife’s (Louise) illegitimate son to a convent where he is raised until the age of 10 (by O’Neil’s character). He then becomes an apprentice to a local businessman Bonnyfeather (Gwenn) who also happens to be Louise’s father. Bonnyfeather discovers that the boy is his grandson but keeps it a secret. Later all grown up the aptly named title character (March) wants to marry the cook’s daughter (de Havilland) but her father finds sudden wealth and moves his family away. However the two later meet again and marry. Unfortunately they are together only a short time before Adverse travels to Cuba where he meets his former master’s acquaintance (Tamiroff). Adverse’s adventure continues for many years leading to Africa where he gets involved in the slave trade and his character deteriorates. However he eventually returns (and comes to his senses?) when Bonnyfeather dies. He also learns that his former master’s evil housekeeper (Sondergaard) has earned a position of power as the wife of Rains’ character whom she had blackmailed when she heard of Adverse’s real parentage. The story continues until Adverse himself learns these facts.