Peter Ibbetson

Gary Cooper proves that there is a great deal more to his acting than spurs and saddles in this adaptation of George Du Maurier's fantasy drama. He portrays the eponymous character who after many years as a youth of dithering (Act 1), becomes an architect who lands a plum job refurbishing the stables on the estate of the wealthy "Duke of Towers" (John Holiday) (Act 2). After a fairly frosty start, he and the "Duchess" (Ann Harding) fall in love, a relationship of which the Duke is not entirely unaware. An altercation ensues, the "Duke" is killed and "Ibbetson" is jailed for the crime. What follows next (Act 3) is an ethereal intrigue as they live what's left of their lives as though joined in a dream. The score and direction provide for an atmospheric, romantic and quirky story that is still worth a watch 85 years on.