Irene Dunne and Clive Brooke find love after each loses it in unwanted marriages--she because of an abusive spouse and he because of a wife who pursues a marriage in name only. While Dunne's character Sara has the courage to stand up to and leave Nils Asther's no good Tono, Clive Brooke's Gordon seems more resigned to his fate. That is until he discovers that the new girl of his fancy loves him too. That is why this story works. Because love is lovelier the second time around, when both partners truly appreciate the fact that they have been blessed with a second chance. I love Irene Dunne in her very early, pre-Code film phase. She is so fresh faced and fun loving, especially in the scene where Brooke literally sweeps her off her feet in the churchyard and whisks her away and she says "Well, alright!". As if to say, it's about darn time you showed me how you really feel! All's well that ends well and the lovers are united in the final scene where we see them blissfully floating downstream with their erstwhile friend Hector sitting in the bow. We find out that they have indeed sealed the deal as Sara admiringly glances at her wedding ring, the outward symbol of her newfound respectability with Gordon and more poignantly as the reflection of their wedded bliss.
Review of If I Were Free
