I've always enjoyed old films, but somehow I came to think of Miriam Hopkins as only playing ditzy roles. Lately, however, I've seen her in a few of her earlier films where she played normal people, and I must admit she was quite good...as she is here, where she plays a young woman who has been living in the big city, but returns to the farm to visit her grandfather (Lionel Barrymore). She falls in love with a married man (Franchot Tone) and for that reason, and others, realizes that perhaps the rural setting is where she needs to be. But there are the beginnings of a scandal, and then two of the reasons she thinks the rural life is for her disappear. This is one of those somewhat slow 1933-era type films, but I enjoyed the story. The big let down here is the ending. Once the 2 things she has come to love about the rural setting disappear, will she stay? And if so, why?Hopkins and Barrymore are quite charming here, although it may take you a bit to get used to Barrymore's huge beard. Franchot Tone does nicely as the married man. Several people mentioned being impressed with Stuart Erwin as an alcoholic farmhand; I don't see anything impressive about the performance at all. Beulah Bondi plays the busy-body relative here, not the typically warm-hearted mother-type we usually saw her as. Grant Mitchell has a smaller role as a relative who is a passive lawyer.I'm not saying this is a great film, but it just feels comfortable. For a bit it seemed to be going off-track when Barrymore seemed to be slipping into senility...but that ultimately turned around nicely. I like Barrymore, so this film was a treat.

Lionel Barrymore is wonderful as 85-year-old Grandpa Storr, crotchety old patriarch who's spent his life running the old family farm. Miriam Hopkins is equally enchanting as the granddaughter who arrives from the city to stay. Hopkins and Barrymore are just delightful as they strike up a fast friendship. "You know, I have a feeling you aren't quite as bad as you're painted," Hopkins offers in a charming early scene where the pair get acquainted sitting on a porch swing. "Who said I was bad?" Barrymore growls back—with a mischievous smirk and slightly raised eyebrow. Stuart Erwin is excellent as Grandpa's devoted if melancholy farm hand. And Franchot Tone is just right as the educated neighbor farmer, loyal to his family and farm although he is powerfully attracted by Hopkins' charm and sophistication and misses the university where he really should be teaching. Funny and poignant, the picture is full of endearing moments and simple yet memorable episodes. The threshing day lunch, for example—when a farmer at the crowded dinner table asks Hopkins for one more piece of pie, the result is hilarious and unforgettable.

The Stranger's Return is an interesting pre-code film to watch, because although it deals with shocking subjects for the time period (like divorce and adultery), the film comes off relatively tame today. Louise Storr (Miriam Hopkins) has just divorced her husband and for a bit of a holiday and a way to get back to her roots, she revisits the family farm. Her grandfather (Lionel Barrymore) takes her back with open arms and shows her how wonderful a rural life can be, even for a city girl. Despite his age, he is a very active sort and continues to parade around his independence amid snobby onlookers. He even introduces his grand daughter to their neighbor Guy Crane (Franchot Tone), a married man who turns out to be the perfect diversion for the girl.This movie is all about gossip and loyalty and finding a place to belong, but it is presented casually so as not to be mistaken for anything but entertainment. It features pleasing performances from some of the big names of the era, namely Barrymore who carries the film.

A very quiet story in terms of action, but full of wonderful performances in material that could have been easily dull in the wrong hands. Miriam Hopkins is at her most beautiful in her prime. When she's on the screen,you simply can't miss her star appeal, which is absolutely magnetic. Not only a beauty, but she proves herself again to be a great actress with a dynamic range. (Also see Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde 1932, Trouble In Paradise, Story Of Temple Drake,and Becky Sharp for Miriam at her best.) Beulah Bondi offers great support with her character that you will love to hate. Lionel Barrymore is also quite lovable in his role as the elderly patriarch of the family.Don't see this film when you're high energy, but see this film.