B.F.'S Daughter

Renowned for his Mr. Moto mysteries, John P. Marquand also penned novels that examined upper-strata society and made the page-to-screen transition: H.M. Pulham, Esq., The Late George Apley and B.F.'s Daughter. Barbara Stanwyck portrays Polly Fulton, a tycoon's daughter, in this glossy screen tale of the clash between haves and have-nots. She weds a left-wing professor (Van Heflin) who disdains her privileged lifestyle. When the prof meets professional failure, Polly secretly buys him a career. The stars, who struck sparks in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, prove again what an intense team they make. Charles Coburn as fiery B.F. and Keenan Wynn as a Machiavellian radio commentator add top support.

• drama