East Lynne (1931)

Whenever a vaudeville comic of the 1920s wanted to get a quick laugh, he'd announce to his audience "Next Week: East Lynne." To many playgoers, this hoary stage adaptation of Mrs. Henry Wood's 1861 novel represented the height of Victorian nonesuch. Still, there were several silent film versions of East Lynne, all of which made money. 1931 yielded no fewer than two adaptations, one set in modern times and retitled Ex-Flame. Fox Studios' version restored the original title and the 1860s setting, but couldn't do much with that creaky plot. Ann Harding portrays Lady Isabel Carlisle, who nearly a decade of family hardships learns that her son has fallen ill. Despite being nearly blind as the result of a bomb explosion, Lady Carlisle returns home to see her son one last time--just before dying herself.