This second version of Back Street stars Margaret Sullavan as the Fannie Hurst
heroine who contents herself with being a mistress to a well known and rich
business executive. She has a few chances at marriage with others but this
woman won't settle for what she considers second best.
Margaret Sullavan had that tragic quality to her that made her cast so well in
these parts. She had an unusual amount of screen deaths among her films
like Three Comrades and No Sad Songs For Me. In this one she chooses what
amounts to a living death with only moments of happiness.
It was a chance meeting at a railroad station that she meets up and coming
business executive Charles Boyer. Boyer's French accent is explained by saying
he was originally from New Orleans. Boyer too was born for romantic parts
and he had just come off films like Algiers, Love Story, Hold Back The Dawn
and All This And Heaven Too. Anoher player born for romance, happy or tragic.
It's a moment of capricious fate arranged by one of Sullavan's male acquaintances Frank Jenks that keeps them apart as she misses a riverboat that
she was to leave on with Boyer. The next time they meet Boyer is married, but
she agrees to be his mistress she loves him so.
Noting some other fine performances in this version are Esther Dale as Sullavan's stepmother, Frank McHugh as a traveling salesman who introduces
Boyer and Sullavan, Richard Carlson as another male acquaintance whose
proposal she turns down and who makes a fortune in the up and coming
automobile business Samuel S. Hinds as Boyer's father-in-law.
Three of Hollywood's best actresses have played Ray Smith. In order Irene
Dunne, Margaret Sullavan and Susan Hayward. Who was best in the role
who can say. But I wouldn't want to bet money on a contest poll on any of
them. Ray Smith is a choice female role and three choice players have done it.
