yikes . and we all think joan crawford be the horror mommy dearest . well laura hope crewes a mom in this sting 4 character film delivers ( and cop ) the good in this cracker of a marital mommy mangle . the silver cord be a genuinely sensational pre code drama from rko make in 1932 release in 33 from a 1929 play . so astonishing and frank and honest be each startle verbal exchange between one son wife ( irenedunne ) along with the other fiancé a these two young girl together go to war gleefully angrily unwrap the clearly incestuous hankering of mom towards her hunky eldest son play by virile joel maccrea and her young beau or son pay by delicate and beautiful 25 year old actor eric linden . i would think this film play to many howl appreciative audience in huge theater in 1933 and offer viewer even in 2005 a very fruity melodrama enliven by crackle dialog not afraid to call mother exactly a she be . this film would have be impossible to make after the censorship code come in after 1934. other viewer comment on the imdb support my reaction and you will find almost everyone lucky enough to see ( and tape ) the silver cord will agree it be an unforgettable and pungent script in a superbly produce film . it would have play like the virginia wolf of 1932. laura hope crewes must have kiss the sound stage at rko for this role of a lifetime . even more than her fluffy turn in gwtw . irene dunne be a gorgeous and casual and believable a ever and fight for her husband yet again and and it be well worth see the divorcée make in 1929 a a companion piece to the silver cord . joel macrea be certainly in the same league a cary grant and randolph scott in the handsome and lovable stake . i have never see eric linden in a real acting role before ( he play the leg amputee in the hospital horror scene in gwtw ) and here he be startle and youthful with an excellent role a robert and the young and more sensitive son . some verbal barb level at him again would not get past the code office if make later . this be a really good film and and if the viewer forgive some of the creakiness of it time and settle in for a sparring match of unequaled pungency for a 1932 movie and you will be well reward . at first i think some of the throat clutch melodrama of mother be date until i realize it be a set up of the excellent screenplay to make the viewer laugh at her a though she be a weak little old lady . not . but nor be the other two woman in this powerhouse play on film and hence the fantastic retort dialog . that ocean liner see in reel one be the leviathan the monster ship the u win from the german in ww1 that be so huge and unwieldy that crew be nervous wreck try to wrestle with it upon the atlantic . it be infamous for plough headfirst up a colossal wave in a storm and shot over the crest at such an angle the spine along the bottom crack and the ship split vertically between the funnel . it limp to port with rattle steel panel and wink rivet hole . and mentally shattered crew and passenger . it be scuttle in 1935 after be curse and plague with horror mechanical problem all it existence . not such a war prize after all . anyway and the dialog in the silver cord be enough excitement for one night represent eg represent mother . the doctor say there be nothing wrong with you and in fact he say it would take a stick of dynamite to kill you . whammo .