At one point in 1932, she starred in four Broadway flops in a row ("If Love Were All", "Happy Landing", "Chrysalis" (with Humphrey Bogart) and "Bad Manners"), but the critics praised Sullavan for her performances in all of them. In March 1933, Sullavan replaced another actor in "Dinner at Eight" in New York. Movie director John M. Stahl happened to be watching the play and was intrigued by Sullavan. He decided she would be perfect for a picture he was planning, "Only Yesterday".