Passion Flower

1930 Drama 78 minutes Directed by William C. deMille

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About Passion Flower

Cassy Pringle tells her rich cousin Dulce Morado that she loves Dan, the family chauffeur. Her father throws her out. Dulce holds the wedding in her house. Dan refuses the farm Dulce and her older husband Tony offer, and he and Cassy take an attic and a dock job. Five years and two children later they finally move to the ranch. Dulce and Dan begin an affair. Cassy sees them kiss, puts Dan out, then writes that she will take him back. Tony dies. Dulce tells Dan they can marry. He goes to the ranch, and his little girl does not know him. Dulce arrives, sees she has lost, and leaves.

Cast & crew

More about Passion Flower

William C. deMille directed and produced the picture without an on-screen credit. Martin Flavin adapted Kathleen Norris's 1930 novel and wrote the dialogue, with additional dialogue by L. E. Johnson and Edith Fitzgerald. Harold Rosson photographed it. Conrad A. Nervig cut it. MGM released it on 6 December 1930. It runs 78 minutes.

Themes

  • A chauffeur who will not take the farm
  • The cousin who stays too close
  • A child who does not know her father
  • Dulce Morado
  • Cassy Pringle
  • Dan Wallace
  • chauffeur
  • ranch
  • Kay Francis

Making

deMille shot Norris's triangle at MGM with Francis as the cousin who lends the house and then takes the husband. Milland walks through the party with no billing.

Look

Harold Rosson photographed the attic, the ranch, and the kiss Cassy sees through the glass door.

Preservation

A print survives, including a copy on Wikimedia Commons.

Notes

  • Kay Francis plays Dulce. Kay Johnson plays Cassy. Charles Bickford plays Dan Wallace. Lewis Stone plays Antonio Morado. Winter Hall plays Leroy Pringle. ZaSu Pitts plays Mrs. Harney. Dickie Moore plays their boy Tommy.
  • Ray Milland's American screen debut is an uncredited party guest.
  • C. Aubrey Smith is on the cast list.
  • Cassy's letter reads: "I can't be proud any longer, dear. If you ever want to come back to us, there is nothing I can't forgive and forget.
  • Dan will not take the farm at the wedding. He takes it only after he loses the dock job and looks at Tommy asleep.

Scenes

  • Dan refuses the farm on his wedding day and takes Cassy to an attic.
  • Cassy sees Dan and Dulce kissing through the glass door.
  • Margaret does not recognize Dan when he comes back to the ranch.

Influenced by

  • Kathleen Norris's novel Passion Flower (1930)

Also available

  • Wikimedia Commons (Passion Flower (1930).webm)

Quotes

I can't be proud any longer, dear. If you ever want to come back to us, there is nothing I can't forgive and forget.

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