Hearts Divided

1936 film by Frank Borzage

Hearts Divided
movie poster
Directed by	Frank Borzage
Written by	Laird Doyle Casey Robinson
Based on	Glorious Betsy 1908 play by Rida Johnson Young
Produced by	Frank Borzage Marion Davies (uncredited)
Starring	Marion Davies Dick Powell Charles Ruggles
Cinematography	George J. Folsey
Edited by	William Holmes
Music by	Erich Wolfgang Korngold^[1]
Production company	Warner Bros.
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	June 20, 1936 (1936-06-20)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Hearts Divided is a 1936 American musical film about the real-life marriage between American Elizabeth 'Betsy' Patterson and Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. It stars Marion Davies and Dick Powell as the couple. The film was a remake of the 1928 silent film Glorious Betsy, which was in turn based on the play Glorious Betsy by Rida Johnson Young. In real life, they were married in Baltimore, before sailing for Europe. Napoleon annulled the marriage, in spite of the existence of a child, and forced Jerome to marry Catharina of Württemberg, making him king of Westphalia. “Luckily, Hollywood treats the lovers Betsy and Jerome with a little more compassion. The couple is even granted a second chance at happiness by Claude Rains' Napoleon.”^[2]

Plot summary

In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte wants to sell a huge swathe of land (which would become the Louisiana Territory) to the United States for $20 million. He gives his younger brother Jérôme a choice between a “goodwill” tour of the United States to assist this effort or a mission to visit Princess Catharina of Württemberg, daughter of the King of Württemberg, with marriage in mind. Jéröme chooses the United States. He meets Elizabeth Patterson, the daughter of a Baltimore banker, and woos her as M. Giroux, a French tutor, without identifying himself to her or her family. Elizabeth is also being courted by two senators and a visiting English aristocrat. The trio provides comic relief.

They fall in love and talk about becoming M. and Mrs. Giroux. He reveals himself at a ball, to everyone’s shock, but quickly assures Betsy that he still wants to marry her.

The couple sail to France, planning to marry there. On shipboard, Napoleon confronts Betsy with the importance of an alliance with Württemberg to the fate of France and the idea that Jerome will grow to hate himself if he abandons his duty. Betsy agrees to sail back to America that night without telling Jerome anything about it. Her father and her suitors welcome her home. In France, Jerome is furious with Napoleon. Their mother intervenes and asks Napoleon to let his brother have his life to live as he pleases.

Cut to Betsy weeping in a gazebo. The three suitors approach and ask her to choose among them. She demurs and walks into the garden. She hears Jerome singing on the other side of the wall. He is wearing the uniform of a French sailor. They run to the garden gate and into each others arms. Mr and Mrs Giroux will live.

Cast

Marion Davies as Elizabeth Patterson
Dick Powell as Captain Jerome Bonaparte
Charles Ruggles as Senator Henry Ruggles
Claude Rains as Napoleon Bonaparte
Edward Everett Horton as Senator John Hathaway
Arthur Treacher as Sir Harry
Henry Stephenson as Charles Patterson
Clara Blandick as Aunt Ellen Patterson
John Larkin as Isham
Walter Kingsford as Monsieur Pichon
Etienne Girardot as Monsieur Du Fresne
Halliwell Hobbes as Cambaceres
George Irving as President Thomas Jefferson
Beulah Bondi as Madame Letizia Bonaparte
Philip Hurlic as Pippin
John Elliott as James Monroe (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel as Zachariah (uncredited)

Songs

"My Kingdom for a Kiss (Pour Un Baiser)" - music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin
"Two Hearts Divided (Deux Coeurs Navrés)" - music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin
"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"
"Rise Up Children and Shine" (cut from final release)