Seed (1931 film)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Seed (1931 film)

Seed is a 1931 American pre-Code drama directed by John M. Stahl. The screenplay by Gladys Lehman is based on a novel by Charles G. Norris. The film stars John Boles, Lois Wilson, Genevieve Tobin, Bette Davis, and others. It runs 96 minutes and was released by Universal Pictures on May 14, 1931.

Plot
Bart Carter gives up his writing dreams to support his wife Peggy and their five children while working as a clerk at a New York City publishing house. When his former girlfriend, Mildred Bronson, a literary agent who’s been in Paris, returns to the United States, she arranges for Bart to keep his salary while he works on a new novel at her apartment. The home life is chaotic, and Bart and Mildred rekindle their past romance. Bart’s novel is published and becomes a hit, so he leaves Peggy and the children to move to France with Mildred. Peggy starts a dress shop and raises the kids in an apartment above the shop.

A decade later, the now-married Bart and Mildred return to New York. The grown children are glad to see their father, who wants to make amends. He suggests sending his daughter Margaret to finishing school, the twins to Harvard, finding a job for the oldest son, and having the youngest boy live with him and Mildred. Peggy reluctantly agrees, feeling she’s losing them. Mildred promises they will come back to Peggy someday, while fearing that her own future would be jeopardized by staying with Bart.

Cast
- John Boles as Bart Carter
- Lois Wilson as Peggy Carter
- Genevieve Tobin as Mildred Bronson
- Bette Davis as Margaret Carter (a very small role)
- Zazu Pitts as a servant
- (Other cast members)

Reception
The New York Times critic Mordaunt Hall found the plot interesting but said it was presented in an adolescent way. He thought John Boles was too placid and John M. Stahl’s direction was unimaginative, calling the film lethargic and sometimes dull despite solid performances from Tobin and Wilson and decent support from others. Bette Davis later recalled that her role was extremely small.