terrific act by the 5 star make this one a must see . base on a stage play and the silver cord be about mother love at it bad . the film be very controversial for it implied homosexuality of the young son and the mother unnatural romantic feeling for both son . irene dunne star a the new bride ( and biologist ) who travel with husband ( joel mccrea ) to visit the family before head off to new york city for their new job . but something seem wrong . the mother and laura hope crew and seem rude to the young son ( eric linden ) fiancée ( france dee ) . but dunne put such thought aside and ignore a few of the strange thing the mother say . then she find out her room be down the hall from mccrea and and his room adjoin mother room . later she walk in a mummy be tuck in mccrea and kiss him ( on the lip ) good night . mummy have also be work on linden and get him to doubt his feeling for dee . everything blow up and with dee run into the snowy night toward the frozen pond . a the boy run after her and mummy shout from the window for boy to come back and get their coat . dee fall through the ice and be rescue . a the girl leave the house the following morning and dunne let mummy know what she think of her and her attachment to the boy . but mummy have a tight hold and fake illness and forever boasting of her sacrifice . the girl leave but the boy stay behind . crew be magnificent a the voracious mother ( repeat her stage role ) while it a part few actress would dare play . the sexual overtone be incredible for a 1933 film and crew take advantage of her best film role . dunne be also excellent a she try to maneuver the course without lose mccrea . dee have some excellent scene after she get dump by bewildered linden . all 5 star be terrific in this drama that be bizarrely underrated and unknown . a neglected gem for anyone who like great acting .