The vitriol and hurt coursing through this prickly, scandalous pre-code melodrama from 1932 may wrong-foot those who had director Frank Capra pegged as head cheerleader for good ol' American democracy and cheery, affirmative humanist values.

...reasonable-enough subject matter that is, for the most part, employed to dull and uninvolving effect by Capra...

Wrestling with how a working mother can find fulfillment without being forced to choose between her career and her children is still a relevant topic today - therefore so is Forbidden.

This is sadly disappointing stuff from such masters of their craft.