July 25 Walter Brennan

To celebrate Walter Brennan’s birthday I watched A Stolen Life. Walter plays a lighthouse keeper. A salty land sea dog. He agrees to pose for a portrait for Bette Davis for a ship in a bottle that he states was promised to him when his friend died.

Bette Davis plays twins. Kate and Pat. Kate falls in love with Glenn Ford, who works at that lighthouse with Walter. They go out on a few dates but Pat steals him away and Pat and Glenn marry. Kate throws herself into her painting to get over her broken heart. She meets Dane Clark a struggling artist who mentors her painting. When Glenn asks Kate’s help to pick out a birthday present for Pat she gladly agrees but is disappointed in Glenn when doesn’t say anything about her birthday. She goes back to her house where Dane is waiting for her. He comes on strong and kisses Kate and she runs away. She goes back to the cottage and Pat is there. She did not go away with Glenn on his new job. The woman go sailing and a big storm comes up. Pat slips overboard. Kate tries to save her but Pat slips away and the ring comes off Pat‘s finger. Walter sees what happens from his lighthouse. Pat’s ring is on Kate’s finger when she awakens.

Walter tells “Pat” it s not her fault that he saw what happened and that she tried to save her sister. Kate plays the role of Kate. When Glenn returns because of Kate’s death he states that after the affairs are settled that “Pat” should go to Reno to get a divorce. Turns out Pat is involved with another man and have been with others during her marriage. Kate decides to leave Glenn due to Pat’s past. She doesn’t want to put Glenn through anymore pain and humiliation. Kate goes back to the cottage and her guardian, Charles Ruggles suspected it really was Kate. Glenn knew it was Kate with her parting words.

I feel bad for the Dane Clark character. I think he was interested in Kate, but she was in love with Glenn and he never stood a chance with her. Dane Clark was equal to Bette Davis, where I don’t think Glenn Ford was.