Madam Bovary

 (1949)
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Written by Robert Ardrey, from the novel by Gustave Flaubert
Starring Jennifer Jones, Van Heflin, Louis Jourdan, Christopher Kent, James Mason
IMDB Entry

For decades, Hollywood was restricted in subject matter by the Hayes Code, which limited what could be portrayed. This created many problems, but one was that movies about serious or sexual subjects couldn't be made. Madam Bovary was an attempt to make a classic story about a married woman having affairs (definitely taboo under the code) 

The movie begins with a frame tale. Gustave Flaubert (James Mason) is on trial for writing his scandalous book. Facing a hostile courtroom, he explains what the book should not be censored.

Emma Bovary (Jennifer Jones) grew up in a convent, learning about romance from novels. She eventually meets and marries Charles Bovary (Van Heflin), a country doctor, who she thinks will become a renowned physician. Alas, Charles is not above remaining a country doctor and his dullish personality does not satisfy Emma's desire for a life out of romance novels. When the aristocrat Rodophe Boulanger (Louis Jourdain) starts romancing her, she accepts, finding him much more attractive than her husband. But Boulanger eventually and cruelly rejects her and she falls into the arms of poverty-stricken Leon Dupus (Christopher Kent), thinking he can romance her like Boulanger.

It is interesting to note the changes from the novel. The frame tale helps to build sympathy for Emma and they are, of course, discreet about any sexual part of her relationships.* There's also a difference in her downfall. In the book, she goes into debt for her affair with Leon;** here, she does it to remodel the house.

Jennifer Jones was possibly cast as Emma  because her image from her academy-award-winning role in Song of Bernadette, where she played a nun. She's quite good. Van Heflin is also good as Charles, where he manages to be flawed but caring toward his wife. Louis Jourdan is fine as Emma's seducer.

Director Vincente Minnelli*** was usually know for musicals, but handles the drama well.

Two better-known actors show up in small parts.  Gene Lockhart, **** the judge on Miracle on 34th Street has a small role, and Harry "Colonel Potter" Morgan has an even smaller one.

_________________________________________________________________

*When she first goes to Boulanger, we see her clothes on the ground, but nothing else.

**In the book, the ultimate tragedy is not because of how she is treated as a woman (though it is overall a feminist novel as her destruction is due to how men treated her), but because she wanted to have an affair with the poor Leon and tried to live it up like she did with the wealthy Rodophe.

***Yes, Liza's father.

****Yes, June's father.