When his mother dies, young Peter Ibbetson leaves Paris and his best friend, Mary, behind to live with a severe uncle in England. Years later, Peter is an architect with little time for women, until he begins a project with the Duke and Duchess of Towers. When Peter and the duchess become great friends, she reveals that she is Mary — but the duke soon suspects his wife of infidelity and challenges Peter to a duel, threatening the pair's second chance.
Acting
Cooper's wounded stoicism against Harding's ethereal longing.
Cinematography
Dream sequences that dissolve boundaries between life and afterlife.
Score
Delius orchestrations that ache with impossible romance.
Director
Henry Hathaway
Gary Cooper
Peter Ibbetson
Ann Harding
Mary, Duchess of Towers
John Halliday
The Duke of Towers
Ida Lupino
Agnes
Douglass Dumbrille
Colonel Forsythe
Virginia Weidler
Mimsey
Dickie Moore
Gogo
Doris Lloyd
Mrs. Dorian
Gilbert Emery
Wilkins
Donald Meek
Mr. Slade
Christian Rub
Major Duquesnois
Robert Adair
Prisoner (uncredited)
Stanley Andrews
Judge (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
George du Maurier's semi-autobiographical novel also inspired the musical 'Dream True' decades later.
Hathaway filmed Harding's close-ups through gauze and Vaseline, a technique borrowed from von Sternberg's Dietrich portraits.
US
