After a love affair ending in an abortion, a young prison reformer submerges herself in her work. She then falls for a controversial and married judge and scandal looms again.
Acting
Irene Dunne's fierce, unapologetic moral complexity
Production
Pre-Code frankness about abortion and adultery
Direction
Cromwell's delicate balance of melodrama and social critique
Director
John Cromwell
Irene Dunne
Ann Vickers
Walter Huston
Barney Dolphin
Conrad Nagel
Lindsey Atwell
Bruce Cabot
Captain Lafe Resnick
Edna May Oliver
Malvina Wormser
Sam Hardy
Russell Spaulding
Mitchell Lewis
Captain Waldo
Murray Kinnell
Dr. Slenk - Copper Gap Warden
Helen Eby-Rock
Kitty Cognac
Gertrude Michael
Mona Dolphin
J. Carrol Naish
Dr. Sorelle
Sarah Padden
Lil
Reginald Barlow
Chaplain
Rafaela Ottiano
Mrs. Feldermans
Wally Albright
Mischa Feldermans (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Pre-Code Hollywood (1930-1934) allowed abortion, adultery, and sexual agency before the Hays Code crackdown. This was nearly banned for 'immorality.'
Sinclair Lewis hated this adaptation so much he refused all film rights to his work for years afterward.
US
