BREAK OF HEARTS
US, 1935, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Katharine Hepburn, Charles Boyer, Jean Hersholt, John Beal, Sam Hardy.
Directed by Philip Moeller.
Break of Hearts was one of Katharine Hepburn's earliest films. After success with A Bill of Divorcement, her Oscar for Morning Glory, Little Women, she appeared in a number of short running-time features which were popular enough, but did not enhance her reputation. While she continued to make some very good films, she was labelled box office poison. After renewing her career with The Philadelphia Story and her teaming with Spencer Tracy, she has never looked back as an actress. She is the only actress to have won four Oscars.
Here she was teamed with French actor Charles Boyer who was emerging as the heartthrob of Hollywood films of the '30s. John Beal also appears ?he had teamed with Katharine Hepburn in The Little Minister the previous year. There is a sympathetic performance by Jean Hersholt. The film was directed by Broadway director Philip Moeller. It is familiar material, soap opera done with Hollywood '30s style.
1. An entertaining melodrama? Soap opera romance? A vehicle for Charles Boyer? Katharine Hepburn? In its time? Now?
2. New York, black and white photography? The world of music and concerts? International flavour? The world of New York apartments? The musical score, especially the use of light classics to indicate the world of Franz Roberti?
3. The title, romantic, tragic? Indications of themes?
4. Katharine Hepburn's portrait of Constance, an aspiring composer, the quality of her work, her friendship with the professor, the encounter with Roberti, his listening to her music, her falling in love with him? The modern fairytale aspect of the romance? Her going to the theatre, the rehearsal? Their enjoying each other's company, his proposal? The happiness of the marriage? Constance's unreality? Her suspicions at finding Franz with the other woman? Her leaving? Her taking up with Johnny? The separation and its effect on her? Her attempt to become a woman of the world? The drinking and dancing at the New Year party? The new encounter? Franz's collapse? Her going to the concert? Finding him in the bar, restoring him to success?
5. Charles Boyer's style as Franz Roberti? His arrogance, skill, conducting? The visit to the professor and his gratitude to him? His ignoring of Constance, his making up for it? The rehearsal, his falling in love with her, the wedding? The dinner date? The clash with Constance? her walking out? His going on his international tour? His reputation, lady friends? The return, the New Year party, the drinking and the collapse at the concert? Constance's rescuing him and restoring him?
6. The sketch of the kindly professor and his support of both Franz and Constance? Johnny as Franz’s friend, his proposing to Constance after her divorce? The good friend?
7. Romantic themes? Reality/unreality? The devotion of the loving wife, marriage, love, career, success?
