Watch The Barretts of Wimpole Street

The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a romantic drama film released in 1934. The movie revolves around the real-life love story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the renowned poets in the world, and Robert Browning, also a poet. The story is set in Wimpole Street, London, in the 19th century. Elizabeth Barrett (Norma Shearer) is shown as a frail and sensitive woman, who is mostly confined to her room due to a mysterious illness that she suffers from. She has a strict and dominating father, Edward Moulton-Barrett (Charles Laughton), who treats her like a child and keeps a strict eye on her activities.

One day, Elizabeth receives a letter from Robert Browning (Fredric March), who is already an admirer of her poetry. Soon, the two begin to exchange letters, and their love for each other blooms through their written words. Robert encourages Elizabeth to break free from the oppression of her father and live a life of her own. However, Mr. Barrett is strictly against their relationship and forbids Elizabeth from meeting Robert.

The story unfolds as Elizabeth and Robert plan to elope and start a new life together, away from the clutches of Elizabeth's father. However, Mr. Barrett finds out about their plan and becomes furious. He sends Elizabeth away to a distant location, hoping that she would forget Robert and come back home. But the two lovers' resolve to be with each other only strengthens during their time apart, and they eventually reunite in a dramatic climax.

The film has excellent performances by all the lead actors. Norma Shearer's portrayal of Elizabeth Barrett Browning is sensitive, nuanced, and brings out the character's vulnerability very well. Fredric March's robust and passionate portrayal of Robert Browning complements Shearer's performance perfectly. Charles Laughton's portrayal of Edward Moulton-Barrett, on the other hand, is a standout performance. He manages to bring out the character's cruel and controlling nature excellently, making him the perfect antagonist.

The cinematography and set design are impressive, capturing the essence of Victorian-era London very well. The movie's music also deserves a mention, as the background score and the songs add a lot of emotional depth to the scenes.

Overall, The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a beautifully crafted romantic drama that captures the essence of a true-life love story. It is a movie that will leave the viewers feeling emotional and invested in the tale of two lovers who fought against all odds to be together.

The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a 1934 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.