Gallant Lady

This film was such a success and Ann Harding with Clive Brook made such an impression that it took only five years before a remake was made, with Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall. Clive Brook is better as a drunk than Herbert Marshall as the perfect gentleman, and Ann Harding was a greater star than Barbara in the 30s, but still the Stanwyck version is the better film, with less sentimentality than the Harding version, which in comparison actually is more shallow. Ann Harding is terrific, no one can contradict that, but Barbara did give greater depth to the role, making it more tragic, which Ann Harding as a tragedienne is not quite convincing with all her furs. Stanwyck's version is more down to earth, while Harding stays on a luxury level, if Clive Brook succeeds excellently in linking her closer to reality. They say the original is always better than the remake, but in this case I prefer the remake, although this original version has an even more efficient and shocking start.