Their Own Desire
Their Own Desire is a 1929 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Norma Shearer, Belle Bennett, Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery, and Helene Millard. The film was adapted by James Forbes and Frances Marion from the novel[1] by Sarita Fuller; Lucille Newmark wrote the titles.[2] It is also the last MGM film in the 1920s. Shearer was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, but lost to herself for The Divorcee.
| Their Own Desire | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card | |
| Directed by | E. Mason Hopper |
| Written by | Frances Marion James Forbes (dialogue) Lucille Newmark (titles) |
| Based on | Their Own Desire by Sarita Fuller |
| Starring | Norma Shearer Belle Bennett Lewis Stone Robert Montgomery Helene Millard |
| Cinematography | William H. Daniels |
| Edited by | Harry Reynolds |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 65 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Premise
A young woman is upset by the knowledge that her father is divorcing her mother in order to marry another woman. Her own feelings change, however, when she falls in love with a young man who turns out to be the son of her father's new love.
Cast
- Norma Shearer as Lucia 'Lally' Marlett
- Belle Bennett as Harriet Marlett
- Lewis Stone as Henry Marlett
- Robert Montgomery as John Douglas Cheever
- Helene Millard as Beth Cheever
- Cecil Cunningham as Aunt Caroline Elrick
- Henry Hebert as Uncle Nate Elrick
- Mary Doran as Suzanne Elrick
- June Nash as Mildred Elrick
- Joseph E. Bernard as Doctor (uncredited)
- Bess Flowers as Miriam, a Polo Player / Snooty Dinner Guest (uncredited)
- Isabelle Keith as Isabelle, a Polo Player / Snooty Dinner Guest (uncredited)
- Kane Richmond as Man at the Resort (uncredited)
- Oscar Rudolph as Man at the Resort (uncredited)
Production
The pool scenes in which John Cheever meets Lally Marlett for the first time were filmed at the Norconian Resort Supreme competition diving and swimming pools. While the diving boards and three diving platforms are long gone, the two Norconian pools are still intact, though worse for wear as of 2008, in the middle of what is now the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, California.
References
- Allmovie film entry calls Fuller's work a short story.
- Film Daily; Film Daily (1931). Film Daily Year Book (1931). Media History Digital Library. New York, The Film Daily.