One Sunday Afternoon

One Sunday Afternoon is a 1933 romantic drama film starring Gary Cooper, Fay Wray, and Frances Fuller. Directed by Stephen Roberts and produced by Paramount Pictures, the movie is based on a play of the same name by James Hagan.

Set in the early 1900s, the plot revolves around two former friends who have fallen out over a woman. The protagonist, Dr. Biff Grimes (Gary Cooper), is a dentist who has been harboring a grudge against his old college buddy, Hugo Barnstead (Neil Hamilton) ever since the latter married Biff's former flame, Virginia (Frances Fuller). The story is told in a series of flashbacks as Biff narrates his tale of woe to his present-day wife, Amy (Fay Wray).

The film begins with Biff reminiscing about his courtship of Virginia, which started on a lazy Sunday afternoon. They enjoy a romantic boat ride on a merry-go-round and later attend a picnic with Hugo. However, the mood is spoiled when Biff discovers that Virginia has been seeing Hugo behind his back. Hurt and angry, he challenges Hugo to a duel, but when the time comes, Biff chickens out and runs away.

Years later, Biff still nurses his grudge against Hugo, despite Virginia having long since passed away. He harbors a deep resentment towards his former friend and believes that Hugo stole Virginia from him. Biff's bitterness is compounded by his unhappy marriage to Amy, whom he married out of a sense of obligation rather than love.

One day, Biff receives a surprise visit from Hugo, who has come to seek his help in fixing a broken tooth. Initially hesitant, Biff agrees to see his old friend and, as they talk, they both realize that they were never really in love with Virginia. Biff learns that Hugo and Virginia's marriage was not a happy one, and that their son (played by Jack La Rue) was not Hugo's biological child.

As the story unfolds, Biff realizes that his resentment towards Hugo was unfounded and that he had been clinging to a grudge that had long since lost its relevance. The film's climax sees Biff and Hugo finally burying the hatchet, with Biff realizing that he has been living in the past and that it is time for him to move on.

One Sunday Afternoon is a charming film that explores themes of love, loss, and forgiveness. The performances of the lead actors are excellent, with Cooper delivering a nuanced portrayal of a man consumed by bitterness and resentment. Wray is charming as the long-suffering Amy, while Fuller is convincing as the object of Biff's misguided affections. The supporting cast, which includes La Rue and Harry Green, are also strong, helping to create a world that feels authentic and lived-in.

Overall, One Sunday Afternoon is a well-crafted movie that deserves to be remembered as one of the great romantic dramas of the 1930s. With its winning performances, engaging story, and heartfelt message, it is a film that will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.