Wayward

David Frost (Richard Arlen) is smitten with a showgirl, Daisy (Nancy Carroll) so they elope. However, this is ill-advised as David is in many ways a weenie--a 'little boy' who allows his rich and powerful mother to run his life. But the problem runs much deeper than his mother just being a stuffy lady. No, she wants to control David and through the course of the film you realize that the reason she hates Daisy so much isn't because Daisy is 'common' but because no one is good enough for David...other than his Mama! Yes, Daisy's walked into a full-blown Oedipal complex and it seems that no matter how much she tries, Mama is going to twist everything Daisy does to make it seems sleazy. Mama also works hard to give Daisy the cold shoulder and make her feel about as welcome as a stripper at a Baptist barbecue! Is there any wonder that eventually Daisy's had enough of this?! Or, should he consider having all his towels embroidered 'His' and 'Mother's'?

Fortunately for the audience, things end well. But between the beginning of the film and the end, it's very soap opera-like....and it's written quite well for what it is. The acting isn't bad either--particularly by Pauline Frederick who plays the mother. Very much worth your time.