A House Divided
Cast & Crew
William Wyler
Walter Huston
Kent Douglass
Helen Chandler
Mary Foy
Lloyd Ingraham
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After the death of his wife, Seth Law decides to advertise for a mail order wife to replace her. He forces his son Matt to write a love letter in response to an ad placed by Ada Peterson, promising that if they marry, Matt will be free to leave the small fishing village where they live. When the woman arrives, however, she is not middle-aged Ada, but a much younger woman, Ruth Evans. Matt meets Ruth at the train, and she naturally assumes that he is her intended husband. She is disappointed when she learns that it is Seth who is looking for a wife. Seth, in turn, is displeased that Ruth is so young but, after eating the dinner she cooks that evening, agrees to marry her. She is reluctant, but Matt convinces her to remain. After a quick marriage, Ruth has second thoughts and begs Seth to let her return home. When he refuses, Matt tries to prevent his father from sleeping with his wife. In the ensuing fistfight, Seth is seriously injured. After the doctor tells Seth that he will never walk again, Matt and Ruth agree to stay and take care of him. Seth is determined that, no matter what the doctor says, he will walk again. During a storm, when Matt leaves to check the boats, Seth tells Ruth that he intends to have sons with her who will be like him, not like Matt. That night Ruth sneaks into Matt's room, and they plan to go away together. Seth crawls up the stairs and, when he finds them together, threatens to kill his son. Frightened by their quarrel, Ruth runs away and hides on the boat. When the boat breaks away in the storm, Matt runs for help, but Seth decides to rescue Ruth himself. Because he is crippled, Seth ties himself to his boat, and when it capsizes, he drowns. In the meantime, Matt has rescued Ruth, and thus they are free to live together.
Director
William Wyler
Cast
Walter Huston
Kent Douglass
Helen Chandler
Mary Foy
Lloyd Ingraham
Charles Middleton
Frank Hagney
Vivian Oakland
Crew
John B. Clymer
John Fulton
John J. Hughes
C. Roy Hunter
John Huston
Ted Kent
Paul Kohner
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle Jr.
Maurice Pivar
Charles Stumar
Dale Van Every
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's pre-release titles were Heart and Hand and The Woman Breaker. According to Universal records, the studio purchased the rights to Edens' story in 1928 and a continuity was prepared by Paul Schofield. It is not known if any of his material was later used in the film. Some scenes in the film were shot on location at Laguna Beach, CA. According to modern sources, Walter Brennan had a part as a musician.
