LENA RIVERS aka The Sin of Lena Rivers (1932) Charlotte Henry & M. Galloway | Drama, Romance | B&W

Lena Rivers, aka The Sin of Lena Rivers, is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Phil Rosen based on the 1856 novel by Mary Jane Holmes. Filmed on several occasions throughout the silent era.

SYNOPSIS
Young Lena Rivers, who was born out of wedlock, goes to live with a rich uncle. Unfortunately, her uncle's wife and daughter make no secret of their dislike of Lena and that they don't want her in their family.

Lena's mother dies at her birth, and she is raised by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Nichols. Lena has never known her father. When she is a teenager, Mr. Nichols dies and Lena and her grandmother go to live with her uncle and the son of the grandmother in Kentucky. John's wife, Matilda, is not at all happy about their coming, and holds it against Lena that she was born out of wedlock. John's daughter, Caroline, thinks Lena is "common" and doesn't include her socially. Upon their arrival, they meet a neighbor, Mr. Graham, who takes an obvious interest in Lena.

Mr. Graham, while showing Lena his horses, explains to her that she reminds him of a girl he was in love with a long time ago. But he lost that girl, while he was away, because she thought he had left her. Lena discovers she has a natural affinity with horses when she is able to calm a frisky horse, Brimstone. Mr. Graham gives Brimstone to Lena. Lena becomes friends with Mr. Graham's ward, Durrie.

Mr. Graham and Lena become good friends, and it turns out that Mr. Graham is Lena's father. He is afraid to tell her, because Lena has learned to hate the father she's never known. In order to help her financially, Mr. Graham fixes a race so that Brimstone wins. Lena's grandmother dies, leaving Lena feel all alone. Conflicts are resolved and happy endings prevail.

CAST & CREW
Charlotte Henry as Lena Rivers
Morgan Galloway as Durrie Belmont
Beryl Mercer as Grandmother Nichols
James Kirkwood as Henry R. Graham
John St. Polis as John Nichols
Betty Blythe as Mrs. Mathilda Nichols
Joyce Compton as Caroline Nichols
Russell Simpson as Grandfather Nichols
Clarence Muse as Curfew
John Larkin as Lucifer 'Lucy' Jones
The Kentucky Singers as Choir Singers (*Kentucky Jubilee Singers)

Directed by Phil Rosen
Written by Stuart Anthony, Warren B. Duff
Based on Lena Rivers by Mary Jane Holmes
Produced by Samuel Bischoff
Cinematography Ira H. Morgan
Edited by Maurice Wright, Martin G. Cohn
Distributed by Tiffany Pictures
Release dates March 28, 1932, October 3, 1932(UK)
Running time 67 minutes
Country United States
Language English

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