The Stranger's Return

Maybe the end was obvious but it still made me feel good. Whole movie made me feel good. Lots of laughs. Reminded me a lot of my grandparents and great grand parents that have since passed on.

Restrained, eloquent story of urbane Hopkins returning to her grandfather's farm in Iowa and falling in love with married farmer Tone. Beautiful photography in bucolic outdoor spaces and warm, naturalistic performances, strikingly unlike other films of the era, make this an unexpected winner.

A really lovely light pre-code comedy/drama that despite really good performances from Hopkins and Tone is just Barrymore's film. He totally dominates the film with his huge beard and acerbic folksy wit. It quite refreshingly depicts Hopkins and Tone as in love without depicting Harvey as anything other than a genuinely caring person.

A fine drama thanks to Lionel Barrymore and his crazy ways. A fine set of support too with Miriam Hopkins, Franchot Tone, Stuart Erwin and Beulah Bondi, but in a way they are just in the shadow of Barrymore and served to keep normality around the farm. I might have wished for more going-ons, but this might be one of them movies that might seem more sincerely by each viewing.