Expert: Jim Kason - 7/4/2008

Question
"I saw this movie in the mid 80's, that was from the 50's, about a couple who met in wartime Europe, he was from America and she from Europe (with a desire to become a designer, who said she would spell her name RAE on her label if she ever became famous). Long story short, he left to go back to US and marry rich girl back home, she did become famous, years later moved to California, ran into him, they started up old romance and having an affair, he had wealthy wife (she was very social, alcoholic, nanny took care of the two children, and she would not give him a divorce) They kept their affair pretty silent for awhile, then when she had a big premier, his wife made a big spectacle in front of everyone
about their affair. She then goes home, he tells her he can't take the way she does the children or him anymore and is leaving, he loves Rae, she said she would give him a divorce but first he had to go with her somewhere?, he said OK, and she drives them off a cliff or something and kills them both instantly. You see Rae sitting at her home devastated, and then you see the kids, and the son
asked the nanny to take them to meet her, the one their dad loved so, the show ends with them pulling up into her driveway? or something like that. The wife
had blonde hair, was in alot of movies during this time frame, the one who played Rae- had dark hair, I can picture her, but her name doesn't come to mind. I was
thinking Cary Grant was the guy, but I couldn't find it in his movies, but who knows, maybe I overlooked it. I would love if you could figure out the title of
this movie. It is driving me crazy, I have tried to find it for years, and my husband and I have never seen it again."  

Answer
Hi again Laura,

A ray of sunshine just came thru,...and I think I've found the film you're describing. A bit late,
but here's the info:
It's been made three times,...but each changed the storyline somewhat.  (You can find them all on  www.Google.com.)

The title is "Back Street", and the most recent version was in Color, and released by Universal
in 1961.   It starred Susan Hayward as Rae,....and John Gavin as her lover (he does look a bit like Cary Grant),...with Vera Miles as the wife.
Thirty years earlier, Universal released the first version (in black and white) in 1931.   It
starred Irene Dunne and John Boles.   And in 1941, Universal released it's second version, also
in B&W,  ( they must have liked this plot),...starring  Margaret Sullivan and Charles Boyer.

Only the latest version has been released on VHS (and possibly DVD.)

Jim Kason