Expert: Mel - 4/15/2008

Question
I saw this old movie probably 30 years ago on T.V. It's an old black and white. Probably late 30's. There is an old lady that stays in her room that is covered in cob webs. She is waiting for her lost love to return. I can't remember much else after all these years but the movie haunts me. I want so much to see again. I just watched Wuthering Heights and the old lady reminds me of Flora  Robson, older with white hair. I checked on a site that listed her movies but none looked right.

Answer
Hello Toni,

That sounds like it could be "Peter Ibbetson" from 1935.

It starred Gary Cooper and Ann Harding in the story of an architect, Ibbetson,who is hired by the Duke of Towers to design a building for him. Ibbetson discovers that the Duchess of Towers, Mary, is his now-grown childhood sweetheart. Their love revives, but Peter is sentenced to life in prison for an accidental killing. Mary comes to him in dreams and they are able to live out their romance in a dream world.

It's a bit of a forgotten classic, a very sad and haunting film which was quite unusual for the time it was made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ibbetson

Glad to be of help. Cheers........Mel.