Il ritorno della straniera

A delicate film, plenty of little marvellous details. I do not know why we cannot watch this film more times on television, because it is, in my opinion, the best film that King Vidor ever filmed. And I could watch it again and again.

The Stranger's Return is an interesting pre-code film to watch, because although it deals with shocking subjects for the time period (like divorce and adultery), the film comes off relatively tame today. Louise Storr (Miriam Hopkins) has just divorced her husband and for a bit of a holiday and a way to get back to her roots, she revisits the family farm. Her grandfather (Lionel Barrymore) takes her back with open arms and shows her how wonderful a rural life can be, even for a city girl. Despite his age, he is a very active sort and continues to parade around his independence amid snobby onlookers. He even introduces his grand daughter to their neighbor Guy Crane (Franchot Tone), a married man who turns out to be the perfect diversion for the girl.

This movie is all about gossip and loyalty and finding a place to belong, but it is presented casually so as not to be mistaken for anything but entertainment. It features pleasing performances from some of the big names of the era, namely Barrymore who carries the film.

Louise Storr (Miriam Hopkins) has recently divorced and she's decided to leave the big city to visit her Grandpa Storr (Lionel Barrymore) in the country. There she has a lovely time and reconnects with family...but she also ends up finding solace in the arms of a nice neighbor, Guy Crane (Franchot Tone). The only trouble is that Guy is already married to Nettie...though he and his wife seem to have little in common...far less than he and Louise.

Despite the underlying conflict in this film is marital infidelity, this isn't exactly the overall tone of the film...nor is it a film endorsing this (like some Pre-Code films did). It's much more a nice slice of life sort of film and the sexual tension between Guy and Louise is just a part of this. However, this also makes it an example of the sorts of topics that you might have found in the Pre- Code days (up until mid-1934) where adultery was discussed in movies...and after it was rarely mentioned at all and when it was, it was severely punished.

Overall, this is a very nice, meandering sort of picture. Very well acted and well worth your time. Barrymore, as usual, steals the show but the rest are also quite good.

Lionel Barrymore is wonderful as 85-year-old Grandpa Storr, crotchety old patriarch who's spent his life running the old family farm. Miriam Hopkins is equally enchanting as the granddaughter who arrives from the city to stay.

Hopkins and Barrymore are just delightful as they strike up a fast friendship. "You know, I have a feeling you aren't quite as bad as you're painted," Hopkins offers in a charming early scene where the pair get acquainted sitting on a porch swing. "Who said I was bad?" Barrymore growls back—with a mischievous smirk and slightly raised eyebrow.

Stuart Erwin is excellent as Grandpa's devoted if melancholy farm hand. And Franchot Tone is just right as the educated neighbor farmer, loyal to his family and farm although he is powerfully attracted by Hopkins' charm and sophistication and misses the university where he really should be teaching.

Funny and poignant, the picture is full of endearing moments and simple yet memorable episodes. The threshing day lunch, for example—when a farmer at the crowded dinner table asks Hopkins for one more piece of pie, the result is hilarious and unforgettable.

A nice little comedy which stood the test of time quite well.Hopkins is the prodigal daughter who got divorced from her husband and comes back to the place where she belongs.There she will meet an educated farmer (Tone)with whom she falls in love ;but alas ,he's married with one child.In parallel ,we follow a wicked woman 's struggle to inherit the old patriarch 's valuable property.But this former military man does his Volpone act and things will change.

As refreshing as the lemonade they sip and the cookies they savor.