Cinematheque: The American Films of Max Ophüls

John M. Stahl’s 1933 film based on Stefan Zweig’s (uncredited) novel introduces Margaret Sullavan to the big screen. She plays Mary Lane, a woman twice seduced by the same man but not recognized by him. A lapse of 12 years has wiped tenor John Boles’s memory clean but to Mary, her love for him is as pristine as when she first surrendered. Stahl’s hopelessly romantic film has been virtually remade by Max Ophüls as Letter From an Unknown Woman in 1948. We show the two films back to back.