By Your Leave (1934) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A temporary escape from marital routine reveals that emotional excitement cannot replace enduring love.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Quiet Marriage

Ellen is introduced within a settled suburban marriage whose routine has become emotionally unsatisfying. A financial windfall creates the possibility of separate vacations.

Key Events

• Suburban Routine — Ellen is established within a settled suburban married life that has become routine. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Suburban home
• Marriage Dissatisfaction — Ellen's household world is contrasted with dissatisfaction about the marriage's lack of excitement. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Suburban home
• Ellen Confides in Whiffen — Ellen spends several days lamenting her situation with Whiffen. Characters: Ellen Smith, Whiffen Location: Suburban home
• Separate Vacations — A financial windfall leads to the proposal that the spouses take separate vacations. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Suburban home

Ellen Chooses the City

After discussing her unhappiness with Whiffen, Ellen decides to seek excitement in New York. Skeets is also connected to the nightlife surrounding the separate-vacation experiment.

Key Events

• Ellen Chooses Independence — Ellen decides that she should pursue her own enjoyment rather than remain at home. Characters: Ellen Smith, Whiffen Location: Suburban home
• Skeets Enters Nightlife — Skeets participates in the urban night out connected to the separate-vacation experiment. Characters: Skeets Location: New York City nightlife
• Pursuing Merle — Skeets is involved in the attempt to pursue Merle and another Broadway dancer. Characters: Skeets, Merle Location: New York City nightlife
• Ellen Leaves Home — Ellen departs for New York to seek the excitement she believes is missing from her life. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Suburban home

A Dangerous Invitation

Ellen meets David McKenzie and responds to his charm and attention. Dinner and a visit to his yacht turn a casual evening into a serious romantic temptation.

Key Events

• Meeting David McKenzie — Ellen meets the charming world traveler David McKenzie after arriving in New York. Characters: Ellen Smith, David McKenzie Location: New York City
• Ellen Receives Attention — David's attention gives Ellen the romantic excitement she had been seeking. Characters: Ellen Smith, David McKenzie Location: New York City
• Andree Joins the Evening — Andree becomes part of the evening's romantic and nightlife entanglements. Characters: Andree Location: New York City
• Dinner with David — David takes Ellen to dinner, deepening the possibility of a romantic involvement. Characters: Ellen Smith, David McKenzie Location: New York City
• Aboard the Yacht — David takes Ellen to his yacht and tells her that he will sail the following day. Characters: Ellen Smith, David McKenzie Location: David McKenzie's yacht

The Morning Decision

David asks Ellen to sail away with him, but she cannot immediately decide. His departure leaves her frightened by the depth of her own response.

Key Events

• Sailing Invitation — David asks Ellen to go away with him when he sets sail. Characters: Ellen Smith, David McKenzie Location: Ellen's hotel suite
• Ellen Delays Her Answer — Confused by David's effect on her, Ellen postpones her answer until the morning. Characters: Ellen Smith, David McKenzie Location: Ellen's hotel suite
• Ellen Fears Her Feelings — After David leaves, Ellen becomes afraid of the strength of her feelings. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Ellen's hotel suite

Homeward Recognition

Ellen returns home rather than commit to the new romance. The experience ultimately leads the married couple to recognize their lasting love and reconcile.

Key Events

• Andree's Romantic Advance — Andree is described as receptive to taking the evening's romantic encounter further. Characters: Andree Location: Hotel suite
• Ellen Returns Home — Ellen rejects an immediate decision and returns to her suburban home. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Suburban home
• Facing the Empty Home — Ellen's return to the home makes the emotional consequences of the experiment unavoidable. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Suburban home
• Marital Reconciliation — The couple realizes that they truly love each other and reconciles. Characters: Ellen Smith Location: Suburban home

Story Breakdown

• Suburban Marriage — Ellen's settled home life provides the emotional starting point for the story.
  • Routine Life — The marriage exists within a stable but emotionally repetitive suburban setting.
  • Growing Restlessness — The lack of excitement creates pressure for a change.
• Separate Vacations — A financial windfall enables the couple to test independence through separate trips.
  • Financial Windfall — New money makes the unusual vacation arrangement possible.
  • Ellen's Agreement — Ellen reluctantly accepts the idea before reconsidering her own options.
• Whiffen's Support — Whiffen shares Ellen's domestic space during her period of dissatisfaction.
  • Household Confidante — Ellen discusses her unhappy situation with Whiffen.
  • Decision For Change — Ellen's conversations precede her decision to leave for New York.
• New York Nightlife — The city offers a contrasting social world filled with pursuit and romantic possibility.
  • Skeets Out — Skeets joins the urban evening connected to the separate-vacation experiment.
  • Merle Pursued — Merle becomes part of the nightlife pursuit involving Broadway dancers.
• David's Temptation — David's charm turns Ellen's search for amusement into a serious emotional test.
  • Dinner Together — David takes Ellen to dinner and intensifies their connection.
  • Yacht Invitation — David asks Ellen to sail away with him after taking her to his yacht.
• Ellen's Choice — Ellen must decide whether to pursue a new romance or return to her marriage.
  • Delayed Answer — She postpones her response to David until the following morning.
  • Return Home — Ellen leaves New York and returns to the suburban home.
• Marital Reconciliation — The experiment ultimately clarifies the depth of the couple's continuing love.
  • Emotional Recognition — The spouses realize that their relationship still matters deeply.
  • Reconciled Marriage — The story concludes with the couple reconciling.

Directed by

Lloyd Corrigan

Key Cast

• Frank Morgan — Henry Smith
• Genevieve Tobin — Ellen Smith
• Neil Hamilton — David McKenzie
• Marian Nixon — Andree
• Glenn Anders — Freddie Wilkins