Those We Love (1932)

Directed by Robert Florey, Those We Love is a poignant drama that explores the fragility of love and the temptations that threaten it. Released during the pre-Code era—a time when Hollywood films could tackle mature themes with fewer restrictions—this 72-minute feature offers a surprisingly modern take on marital strain and emotional resilience.

Plot Summary
Freddie Williston (Kenneth MacKenna), a young author fresh from war, finds love with May Ballard (Mary Astor), the first person to buy his debut novel. Their marriage blossoms, and they raise a son together. But years later, their domestic bliss is tested when a seductive neighbor, Valerie (Lilyan Tashman), sets her sights on Freddie. Though he resists her advances, May’s trust begins to unravel, and the couple must confront the emotional fallout.

Cast Highlights

• Mary Astor as May Ballard — already a seasoned actress by 1932, Astor would later win an Oscar for The Great Lie (1941)
• Kenneth MacKenna as Freddie Williston
• Lilyan Tashman as Valerie Hale — known for her glamorous screen presence, Tashman tragically died just two years later at age 37
• Supporting roles include Hamilton MacFadden, Virginia Sale, and Edwin Maxwell

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• The film was adapted from a stage play by George Abbott and S.K. Lauren, which ran for 77 performances at the John Golden Theater starting February 19, 1930
• It was independently produced and distributed by Sono Art-World Wide Pictures, a lesser-known studio that gave the film a more intimate, theatrical feel
• The film received early television broadcasts in 1949 on WPIX in New York and KTLA in Los Angeles