The Children's Hour

Made 25 years after These Three, William Wyler’s second stab at adapting Lillian Hellman’s controversial play is less a remake than an act of artistic redemption; thanks to changes in the Hays Code, Wyler could finally restore the homosexual element at the centre of the film and the bleak original ending, making this drama about the devastating fallout of a wicked lie all the more powerful. Though puritanical by today’s standards, the film’s relatively radical handling of homosexuality and homophobia show Hollywood’s shift from conservatism to progressivism. Keep an eye out for These Three co-star Miriam Hopkins’ appearance in this remake, this time as the frustratingly unhelpful Aunt Lily.

25/2 (Sun): Film talk with Joyce Yang