Based on a real-life story where public scandal subsequently paved the way for political turmoil in France, this is highly sanitised account of it as presented trough thick gauze of Hollywood filters and re-packaged as sentimental melodrama. The truth of it all has been obscured with time and even the novel that inspired the script (by Rachel Field) was probably just well intentioned interpretation but one has to admire scriptwriters willingness to deal with potentially sordid subject and serve it as glittering box with a decorative bow on the top.
Aloof, sophisticated Duke (regal Charles Boyer) and his neurotic wife (Barbara O'Neil, otherwise remembered as mother of Scarlett in "Gone with the Wind") live in a cold, loveless marriage just for the sake of appearances in society, while we are to understand that procession of servants, housekeepers and teachers take care of their offspring (bunch of sugary, well-behaved and totally unreal children who seem to conform to Hollywood standards of how kids should be depicted, with nice turn by little Virginia Weidler from "The Women"). The arrival of a new governess brings instantly some music, joy and happiness in the household and Duchess goes berserk with jealousy, with tragic results. Truth to be told, even though the movie leans over backwards in attempt to suggest otherwise, her husband does appear sadistic in his coldness towards wife and nothing in the world can explain or redeem his behaviour - if she was good enough to bore him all that children, he could show some gentleness and understanding to her. Warner Bros. makes a mind-boggling decision to give he role of a meek, submissive and self-sacrificing governess to world's most famous gargoyle Bette Davis who does her job admirably but we can sense tension in every single scene and occasional flash of anger, quick but noticeable glance in those expressive eyes clearly show this is all just an act, we know this can't be real and even though Mademoiselle is portrayed as utterly angelic, blameless and pure, we hold our breath expecting her to chew everybody out. Movie was a huge success in its time and meticulous care was taken of its cellophane (costumes, lavish production) but what stayed with me was the question what the life of governess must have been, not quite servant but not much better either, depending on whims of employers and living in constant fear of poverty.
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