Their Own Desire (1929) in Color — Starring Norma Shearer & Robert Montgomery

Their Own Desire (1929) – Buy This Classic Early Talkie Romance in Color

Experience the captivating Their Own Desire (1929) in stunning colorized HD. Directed by E. Mason Hopper for MGM, this early sound-era romantic drama stars a young Norma Shearer — who received her first Academy Award nomination for this role — as a spirited young woman whose budding romance with a charming young man (Robert Montgomery) is threatened when they discover that their parents are entangled in their own scandalous love affair. The generational collision between parental indiscretion and youthful passion creates a sophisticated, emotionally complex drama that was remarkably frank for its era. Belle Bennett and Lewis Stone add depth as the parents whose actions threaten to destroy their children’s happiness. With Shearer’s luminous performance, elegant MGM production values, and a dramatic lakeside climax, this is a fascinating example of Hollywood finding its voice in the transition from silents to talkies. Now available as a premium digital download for just €15.00 — DRM-free and yours to keep forever.

Plot Summary

Lally Marlett (Norma Shearer) is a young woman of privilege and spirit — beautiful, intelligent, and accustomed to the comfortable world of upper-class American society. Her life seems perfect until she discovers that her father (Lewis Stone) is having an affair, shattering her idealised image of her parents’ marriage and throwing her family into turmoil. Her mother (Belle Bennett), devastated by the betrayal, retreats into bitterness and recrimination.

Seeking escape from the wreckage of her family life, Lally travels to a summer resort where she meets Jackson “Jack” Donat (Robert Montgomery), a charming, athletic young man who offers everything her fractured home does not — romance, laughter, and the promise of a fresh start. Their attraction is immediate and powerful, and a passionate summer romance develops that seems to offer both of them hope for a happier future than the one modelled by their parents.

But fate delivers a devastating irony: Lally discovers that Jack’s mother is the woman with whom her father is having the affair. The revelation transforms their innocent romance into something far more complicated and painful. Can Lally and Jack build a genuine relationship when their parents’ adultery has poisoned the ground beneath them? Can young love overcome the mess created by the older generation’s failures?

The film builds to a dramatic climax during a sailing excursion that becomes a genuine life-and-death struggle, as the romantic and familial tensions converge with a physical crisis that strips away pretence and forces every character to reveal their true feelings. The resolution demonstrates that love between the young generation need not be doomed by the failures of the old — but the path to that conclusion is neither easy nor painless.

Cast & Crew

Director: E. Mason Hopper
Stars: Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, Belle Bennett, Lewis Stone, Helene Millard, Cecil Cunningham, Mary Doran

Norma Shearer earned her first Academy Award nomination for her brave, emotionally nuanced performance as Lally — a role that required her to convey both youthful romantic ardour and the mature pain of discovering her parents’ flaws. Robert Montgomery — in one of his earliest significant roles — displays the debonair charm that would make him a major star throughout the 1930s. Lewis Stone brings gravitas and genuine pathos to the wayward father, and Belle Bennett is heartbreaking as the betrayed wife.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The elegant settings of late 1920s upper-class America — the luxurious homes, the fashionable resort, the sleek yachts, the sophisticated evening wear that epitomised the glamour of the era — are beautifully enhanced through expert colorization. The sunlit lake sequences and the dramatic storm climax gain extraordinary visual atmosphere in colour. Now also available in colour. Own Norma Shearer’s Oscar-nominated performance for just €15.00 — where young love confronts old mistakes.

Historical Significance

Their Own Desire occupies a fascinating position in cinema history — made during the revolutionary transition from silent films to talkies, it captures Hollywood in the process of reinventing itself. Norma Shearer’s first Oscar nomination established her as one of MGM’s most important dramatic actresses, a status she would confirm with her Best Actress win for The Divorcee the following year. Robert Montgomery’s screen debut here launched a career that would make him one of the most popular leading men of the 1930s. The film’s frank treatment of adultery and its psychological consequences was characteristic of the more permissive pre-Code era, when Hollywood could explore adult themes with a directness that the Production Code would soon prohibit. Through colorization, this important early talkie has been preserved for modern audiences in a luminous new visual presentation.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes – professionally colorized from the original black-and-white
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 66 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes – no restrictions on playback
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Did Norma Shearer win the Oscar for this film?
A: She was nominated but did not win for this film. However, she won Best Actress the very next year for The Divorcee (1930), confirming the promise shown in this performance.

Q: How does this compare to other early talkies?
A: Remarkably well. While some early sound films feel stiff and stagey, Their Own Desire is directed with a visual fluidity that bridges the silent and sound eras gracefully. Shearer’s performance in particular transcends the technical limitations of early sound recording.

Q: Is this a pre-Code film?
A: Yes. Made before the strict enforcement of the Production Code in 1934, the film treats adultery and its consequences with a frankness that would not be possible in Hollywood films for decades afterward.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in 720p HD resolution, compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM on this download?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free, meaning you can watch it on any device without restrictions or expiration dates.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchasing?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment. You can start watching within minutes of completing your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Divorcee (1930)
• A Free Soul (1931)
• Her Cardboard Lover (1942)
• The Women (1939)
• The Night Club Lady (1932)