Films Main Encyclopedia Entry Photos From Movie
Their Own Desire
Production: Not Available;
Premiere: Not Available;
Released: December 27, 1929;
Production/Distribution Companies: Metro Goldwyn Mayer/Loew's Inc.;
Runtime: 65 min;
Country: USA;
Language: English;
Color: Black and White;
Sound Mix: Mono (Western Electric Sound System);
Not available on VHS or DVD;
Cast: Norma Shearer as Lally; Belle Bennett as Harriet; Lewis Stone as Marlett; Robert Montgomery as Jack; Helene Millard as Beth; Cecil Cunningham as Aunt Caroline; Henry Hebert as Uncle Nate; Mary Doran as Susan; June Nash as Mildred;
Awards & Nominations:
Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Norma Shearer);
Production Credits:
Produced by: Irving Thalberg;
Directed by: E. Mason Hopper; James Grant Forbes;
Writers: Frances Marion; James Grant Forbes;
Gowns by: Adrian;
Editing: Harry Reynolds;
Reviews:
“With just a little restraint, this effort at an emotional epic might have been more than a vain attempt. Due to poor direction, the principals emote until both themselves and the audience are exhausted. As a climax, there is a stupendous studio storm and tailored to box-office ending. Norma Shearer is badly miscast. A little hard to take after The Last of Mrs. Cheyney.”
Photoplay, February 1930
“Miss Shearer’s spontaneity and pleasing diction are worthy of a more plausible chronicle than that of this current film. Lewis Stone does well by the part of Marlett; he can’t help being discovered in a compromising situation devised by the director. Belle Bennett is sympathetic as Mrs. Marlett and Robert Montgomery at last reveals that has the ability in the role of the irrepressible Jack Cheever.”
Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times, January 25, 1930
“After The Trial of Mary Dugan and The Last of Mrs. Cheyney which combined to set Norma Shearer miles ahead of its nearest competitor in my estimation, it was too bad they chose Their Own Desire. It isn’t, perhaps, a bad picture. It may even be, in a sense, a good picture. But it isn’t one-two kick with either of those mentioned, and I’m sorry about it. I hoped Miss Shearer had got away from scripts like this. Belle Bennett, Lewis Stone, and Robert Montgomery are others who take the rap with Miss Shearer. None deserve it.”
Exhibitor’s Herald World, January 4, 1930
Movie Posters:
