Husband producer Irving Thalberg fell ill in 1932 and the couple had left Hollywood and went on an extended tour of Europe. Returning to MGM in 1933, he produced this film under his new contract and cast Norma in the lead role. Her emotional range and charm is always a delight. Her costumes in shiny silk charmeuse and deep dark velvet translate so well in vintage black and white. And this is one of the few films with the legendary Mrs. Patrick Campbell.
Riptide is a bizarrely entertaining, quality production with an inspired cast.
It s the complicated story of a woman who depends upon a variety of men to meet her various psychological needs. The play was most noted for bringing the action to a screeching halt to permit the various characters to voice their unspoken thoughts unheard by the other players. It must have seemed a natural for film, for the spoken thoughts device could be done via voice-over and therefore create less of an interruption in the action of the film. The range of possible non-verbal facial expressions is taken to the limit. The film was panned by critics and audiences when it was released.