A Bill of Divorcement

Skilfully canned version of Clemence Dane's terribly dated problem play about a shellshocked WWI veteran (possibly suffering from hereditary insanity) who returns from the asylum after 15 years to find his wife planning divorce and his daughter a stranger. Full of strangled sentiments and easy options, with a rather too carefully studied performance by Barrymore. But fascinating to see Hepburn's raw-boned talent already at work in her first film, and Cukor already responding to it. Remade in 1940 with Adolphe Menjou and Maureen O'Hara.