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IMDbPro

The Flame Within

  • 1935
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
300
YOUR RATING
Herbert Marshall and Ann Harding in The Flame Within (1935)
DramaRomance

Psychiatrist finds herself falling for her patient.Psychiatrist finds herself falling for her patient.Psychiatrist finds herself falling for her patient.

  • Director
    • Edmund Goulding
  • Writer
    • Edmund Goulding
  • Stars
    • Ann Harding
    • Herbert Marshall
    • Maureen O'Sullivan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    300
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edmund Goulding
    • Writer
      • Edmund Goulding
    • Stars
      • Ann Harding
      • Herbert Marshall
      • Maureen O'Sullivan
    • 13User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos7

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    Top cast28

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    Ann Harding
    Ann Harding
    • Dr. Mary White
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • Dr. Gordon Phillips
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Lillian Belton
    Louis Hayward
    Louis Hayward
    • Jack Kerry
    Henry Stephenson
    Henry Stephenson
    • Dr. Jock Frazier
    Margaret Seddon
    Margaret Seddon
    • Mrs. Ida Grenfell
    George Hassell
    • Mr. Rigby
    Eily Malyon
    Eily Malyon
    • Murdock - Lillian's Housekeeper
    Isabelle Keith
    Isabelle Keith
    • Nurse Carter
    • (as Claudelle Kaye)
    George Beranger
    George Beranger
    • Prince Hassan
    • (uncredited)
    A.S. 'Pop' Byron
    A.S. 'Pop' Byron
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Wallis Clark
    Wallis Clark
    • Man at Hospital Benefit
    • (uncredited)
    Jay Eaton
    Jay Eaton
    • Man at Hospital Benefit
    • (uncredited)
    Earl Eby
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Jim Farley
    Jim Farley
    • Policeman in Bar
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Fetherston
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    June Glory
    June Glory
    • Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Hayes
    Sam Hayes
    • Sam Hayes - Radio Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Edmund Goulding
    • Writer
      • Edmund Goulding
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    5.8300
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    Featured reviews

    4wes-connors

    When Boyfriend Drinks

    New York City "nerve specialist" (which means psychiatrist) Ann Harding (as Mary White) returns the love declared by physician Herbert Marshall (as Gordon Phillips), but she declines his offer of marriage because Ms. Harding wants to focus on her career. Marriage means Harding would assume the "housewife" role exclusively. After Mr. Marshall tends to suicidal young Maureen O'Sullivan (as Lillian Belton), he recommends Harding see Ms. O'Sullivan professionally.

    Harding meets O'Sullivan as she is trying to kill herself yet again, by jumping out a window. The two women take a cigarette break. Then, Harding decides the best way to stop O'Sullivan from killing herself is to have regular sessions with… no, not O'Sullivan, but her handsome young boyfriend. Yes, Harding figures she needs to cure O'Sullivan by making alcoholic Louis Hayward (as Jack Kerry) stop drinking. Things get complicated when a new love relationship forms...

    Harding barely gets through this story, with her elbow often protruded and some emoting close-ups. Marshall tries to maintain dignity, against all odds. O'Sullivan is pretty. While lower-billed, Hayward unexpectedly becomes the story focus. A-list director Edmund Goulding was successful enough to write, produce, and direct "The Flame Within" at MGM, but psychiatry based on seeing a patient's alcoholic boyfriend seems unprofessional. Some of it is unintentionally funny.

    **** The Flame Within (5/17/35) Edmund Goulding ~ Ann Harding, Herbert Marshall, Louis Hayward, Maureen O'Sullivan
    5FANatic-10

    Unconvincing, Dated Drama

    This story boasts some impressive credentials, being written and directed by Edmond Goulding, the well-known director of "Grand Hotel", "The Razor's Edge" and "Nightmare Alley" and with a musical score by Jerome Kern (unfortunately, not a distinguished one) and cinematography by the great James Wong Howe (again, not one of his premier efforts). It concerns two couples, Ann Harding and Herbert Marshall, a psychiatrist and a medical doctor who have been courting for quite some time, and Louis Hayward and Maureen O'Sullivan, two wealthy young people: he, an alcoholic wastrel and she, a pathologically needy woman obsessed with her relationship with Hayward. When O'Sullivan attempts suicide over Hayward's neglect, Marshall tends to her and calls in Harding to attempt to help her. Harding goes about this, rather strangely, by attempting to cure Hayward's alcoholism so that he will hopefully be a better partner to O'Sullivan (no matter that her obsession with him is not the mark of a well-balanced individual).

    After his rehabilitation, Hayward does indeed attempt to be better to O'Sullivan and marries her, but finds that his attachment to Harding has developed into love. Harding finds that she reciprocates his feelings also and the dilemma must be resolved. Sounds like an interesting, even juicy movie could have been made of all this, but I'm afraid not. Ann Harding had a blonde, patrician beauty that is lovely and her acting could be subtle, thoughtful and surprisingly modern. However, the one thing I have not seen her capable of in what I admit is my limited knowledge of her acting (3 performances) is physical passion. She and Marshall strike no sparks and seem to have no more than a companionable friendship, but neither does she give any indication that she burns with passion for Hayward, so the viewer is left with no investment in either relationship. O'Sullivan has a good scene or two, but her character is awfully inconsistent, swinging from noble to nutsy, without enough exploration by Goulding of what could account for her feelings, just neediness. The now jaw-dropping sexism of some of the attitudes expressed, as well as the simplistic look at the mechanics of psychiatry also work against the drama and make it quite dated.
    8MarieGabrielle

    Edmund Goulding who also directed Tryone Power in Nightmare Alley

    The film "Nightmare Alley" was a masterpiece of its time, with the content and theme of that film, the psychoanalysis and hypnotism as well as substance abuse issues. (Tyrone Power starred). So going into this film, one would expect an interesting theme on psycho-analysis (buregeoning practice at this time) and Goulding himself reportedly had several varied personal experiences with therapy, which is why his films are also intriguing.

    Maureen O'Sullivan as suicidal socialite, and therapy patient. Anne Harding (who was also in "Prestige" with Melvyn Douglas an interesting film.) While you may watch this and try to make sense of the theme, it is probably a better idea to simply watch the players. Ann Harding as female psychiatrist has a few decent lines here . ..." to do something for a higher cause, other than ones self, is to gain insight"... .

    However, the speech comes off as odd as she is counseling alcoholic patient and playboy Louis Hayward to stay with his suicidal girlfriend. Overall no resolution here, just unusual characters and a few archaic references to women's roles at the time, although Harding portrayed a believable portrait of a repressed female psychiatrist here.

    While a bit convoluted the sets are interesting, the costume ball with Louis Hayward dressed as a harlequin, for example. Overall interesting if a bit inchoate. 8/10.
    5blanche-2

    major transference

    Yikes, what a mess.

    "The Flame Within" is from 1935 and stars Ann Harding, Herbert Marshall, Louis Hayward, Maureen O'Sullivan, and C. Aubrey Smith.

    Harding is Dr. Mary White, a hard-working psychiatrist. Herbert Marshall plays Dr. Gordon Phillips, her good friend. He's in love with her and wants to marry her, but she resists. She would rather concentrate on her work. In those days, when a woman married, she stayed home. Mary isn't sure how that would work out for her.

    Phillips has a suicidal patient, Linda (O'Sullivan) whom he convinces to see White. The problem is Linda's boyfriend, Jack (Hayward),is an alcoholic. Mary suggests that she counsel Jack and perhaps help him.

    Jack manages to both stop drinking and fall in love with his doctor and vice versa - I mean, way to go, fall for the suicidal patient's love of her life. Mary and Jack find some happiness, but Linda picks up on the situation and becomes jealous.

    Dated and muddled, this isn't the best film that these people have made though they all do their best to overcome the script. Maureen O'Sullivan is beautiful, and one thing about her -- she was always very earnest. Harding is stiff upper lip.

    I'm not sure I liked the way this film ended. I loved all the actors but this script was pretty bad.
    5SnoopyStyle

    modern red flags

    Lillian Belton (Maureen O'Sullivan) is suicidal. Psychiatrist Dr. Mary White (Ann Harding) saves her and learns that her troubles stem from the alcoholic Jack Kerry (Louis Hayward). Dr. Gordon Phillips (Herbert Marshall) falls for Dr. White. He wants to marry her, but also wants her to abandon her work.

    This movie has so many red flags... modern flags. I don't know if these red flags flew back in the day. I don't think modern psychiatrists would do what she does. Also, the ending is very tough in the modern sense. These are complicated relationships and I'm not comfortable with them. I feel like none of these people should be together, but times were different.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      A letter in 1935 sent from the PCA to M-G-M where PCA suggested that the studio omit the expression, "He's a little effeminate," and warned against any "indication of effiminacy in the portrayal of Ramos." In addition, the PCA noted that some censor boards would likely delete any reference to "kidneys," explaining that "it [the organ] seems to have some unpleasant connotation in the public mind."
    • Goofs
      At the end of the film, Mary hands Dr. Frazier a cup of tea twice between shots.
    • Connections
      Featured in Complicated Women (2003)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 17, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 晩春
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 12m(72 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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