Break of Hearts ** (1935, Katharine Hepburn, Charles Boyer, John Beal, Jean Hersholt) – Classic Movie Review 3,938

RKO’s 1935 romantic drama film Break of Hearts is a sudsy, soapy affair, in which budding music composer Constance (Katharine Hepburn) gets into a lather after falling for famed orchestra conductor Franz Roberti (Charles Boyer). 

Director Philip Moeller’s 1935 RKO romantic drama film Break of Hearts is a sudsy, soapy affair, in which budding music composer Constance (Katharine Hepburn) gets into a lather after falling for famed orchestra conductor Franz Roberti (Charles Boyer).

They fall in love and marry and are happy until Franz takes to the bottle and Constance finds him with a society divorcée. Constance retaliates by going out with her friend Johnny Lawrence (John Beal), who wants to marry her, but then there is the little matter of her husband.

Although the story by Lester Cohen seems clichéd and creaky in the screenplay by Sarah Y Mason, Victor Heerman and Anthony Veiller, which was written specifically for Hepburn, the power of the acting still comes shining through. Boyer is ideally cast and sails through the material, though it seems more of an effort for Hepburn in a role that would have suited Bette Davis better.

Deservedly one of Hepburn’s least well-known and least regarded movies, it ends up being entirely foolish but still quite fun, with relishably soppy dialogue like: ‘He needs me. It’s where I belong. It’s where I want to be.’

Robert de Grasse’s photography, Max Steiner’s score and Van Nest Polglase’s production designs, plus the short running time of just 78 minutes, are all on its side.

Jean Hersholt has a key role as Franz’s old music teacher Professor Thalma. Also in the cast are John Beal, Sam Hardy, Inez Courtney, Helene Millard, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Susan Fleming, Lee Kohlmar, Jean Howard, and Anne Grey.

Release date: 31 May 1935.

The budget was $427,000 and the box office was $695,000, so it was a hit.

Hepburn was originally intended to co-star with John Barrymore, but then Francis Lederer was the first signed-up co-star, until he was replaced with Charles Boyer. After completing one scene, Lederer refused to shoot the next set-up as it ‘showed his bad side’. Hepburn and assistant director Edward Killy complained to RKO studio head J P MacDonald, who fired Lederer and hired Boyer.

The film was advertised as: ‘The star of a million moods together with the new idol of the screen.’ Or: ‘Stunning!..in gorgeous gowns..by the fashion designer of “Roberta”. [The gowns are designed by Bernard Newman.] Or ‘What Gorgeous Clothes She Wears!’ But this is more like it: ‘A LOVE STORY THAT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART…and PUT IT TOGETHER AGAIN!’

Philip Moeller (26 August 1880 – 26 April 1958) was an American stage producer and director, who had previously made The Age of Innocence (1934).

Break of Hearts is directed by Philip Moeller, runs 78 minutes, is made and released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Lester Cohen (story), Victor Heerman (screen play), Sarah Y Mason (screen play) and Anthony Veiller (screen play), is shot by Robert De Grasse, is produced by Pandro S Berman, and is scored by Max Steiner, with Art Direction by Van Nest Polglase and Costume Design (gowns) by Bernard Newman.

The cast are Katharine Hepburn as Constance Dane Roberti, Charles Boyer as Franz Roberti, John Beal as Johnny Lawrence, Jean Hersholt as Professor Thalma, Sam Hardy as Marx, Inez Courtney as Miss Wilson, Helene Millard as Sylvia DeWitt, Ferdinand Gottschalk as Enrico Pazzini, Susan Fleming as Elise, Lee Kohlmar as Schubert, Jean Howard as Didi Smith-Lennox, and Anne Grey as Lady Phyllis Cameron.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3,938

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