The Two Mrs. Carrolls by Martin Vale

The Two Mrs. Carrolls by Martin Vale (a pseudonym of Marguerite Vale Veiller) was first produced for the London stage in 1935, and after a successful Broadway run, was made into a Hollywood film starring Humphrey Bogart and Barbara Stanwyck in 1947. Setting it on the coast outside Monte Carlo adds flair, but it could take place anywhere - the action is set in one comfortable living room.

Geoffrey and his wife Sally have just moved in to Villa la Vista, surprised to find Sally's good friend and old beau Pennington visiting his aunt and niece two doors down. They all meet for drinks and find Mrs. Latham charming, her daughter Cecily especially beautiful. Oddly, the sun and sea air disagree with Sally and she becomes lethargic and pale. Dr. Tuttle agrees with Geoffrey that a second opinion is warranted, which Geoffrey sets up before going in to Monte Carlo on business. Enter Harriet - the first Mrs. Carroll - who invites herself to speak with Sally while he's gone. She has remained quiet since she divorced Geoffrey, but is compelled to tell Sally now her life is in danger - Geoffrey is slowly poisoning her, as he tried to do to Harriet! Sally is unbelieving, but - he does spend all his time with Cecily... Can her loving husband actually be trying to kill her and run off with a third wife? Under the tensions of a rash of burglaries in the area, and a raging mistral wind shaking the windows, it comes to an explosive head one dark night as the couple battle for their lives.

This builds exciting tension towards the finale, but reading a play is always second to seeing it performed. One example is the Carrolls' Provencal "bonne a tout faire", the maid who speaks only French in several conversations which are not translated - you would get the gist watching it, but those who don't know the language have to do some guess work. My edition is a 1946 hardcover edition from Allen & Unwin, which unfortunately spells out every surprise on the flyleaf including the conclusion. The film moved the action to Scotland and juggles the characters and events around. Always nice to read the source material.

Of note is a real life drama: Elizabeth Bergner won high praise for her role of Sally in the 1943 New York production. Every night for days on end, a shy waif-like girl was waiting by the stage door to speak with her, and Elizabeth gave her a job as a secretary and became her mentor, eventually giving her the job of understudy in the play. The girl proceeded to undercut her life and career, and the incident became the basis for a short story by Mary Orr titled "The Wisdom of Eve". This was adapted for the screen in 1950 as, of course, All About Eve.

PS: the plans of Eve Harrington in the film are thwarted, yet in the story she ends up with everything she ever wanted, including the husband!

1935 / Hardcover / 95 pages