Movie spotlight
Remarkable poet Elizabeth Barrett is slowly recovering from a crippling illness with the help of her siblings, especially her youngest sister, Henrietta, but feels stifled by the domestic tyranny of her wealthy widowed father. When she meets fellow poet Robert Browning in a romantic first encounter, her heart belongs to him. However, her controlling father has no intention of allowing her out of his sight.
The film chronicles the true story of Elizabeth Barrett, a sheltered and invalid poet living under the oppressive rule of her tyrannical father. Against all odds and her father's wishes, she falls in love with fellow poet Robert Browning. Their forbidden romance blossoms, leading to a secret courtship and a courageous elopement, defying societal expectations and family tyranny.
The film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its faithful adaptation of the play and its powerful performances, particularly from Norma Shearer and Charles Laughton. It was lauded for its emotional depth and romantic sweep, becoming one of MGM's most successful films of the year.
Praised for its strong dramatic performances, especially from its lead actors.
Lauded as a poignant and compelling romantic drama.
Commended for its historical fidelity and emotional resonance.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this specific film from 1934 is not readily available.
Norma Shearer was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Elizabeth Barrett. The film itself was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The film is based on a highly successful 1930 stage play of the same name by Rudolf Besier, which itself was inspired by the true-life romance of poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources
I thought that there was something almost claustrophobic about this film as we are introduced to a well-off family who live in a grand villa in London’s west end. There are nine siblings, all well into adulthood, and all under the thumb of ...
I'm sorry, but the scenes with Norma Shearer and Fredric March simply fall flat. Shearer's "fey" acting style is contemptible at the best of times, but her overacting in every single scene simply destroys the fabric of this otherwise well ...