A House Divided (1931) DVD-R

Starring Walter Huston, Douglass Montgomery, Helen Chandler, Mary Foy,
Vivien Oakland, Marjorie Main, Walter Brennan
Directed by William Wyler

Print: black/white
Runtime: 70 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

"A house divided against itself cannot stand" declared Abraham Lincoln;
proof that a house divided can be repaired is provided in this early talkie
effort from director William Wyler. Walter Huston plays alcoholic
fisherman Seth Law, who, recently widowed, signs up for a mail-order
bride. Ruth Evans (Helen Chandler), Seth's wife-to-be, is instantly
attracted...to Seth's ne'er-do- well son, Matt (Kent Douglass). Father and
son duke it out, leaving Seth crippled. Though he now despises Ruth,
Seth aligns with his son to save the girl when a sudden storm blows up.
Seth is killed, but he is satisfied that Ruth is happy and that his son is not
the wastrel he thought he was. Interestingly enough, the dialogue for A
House Divided was penned by Walter Huston's own son, John.