By Your Leave (1934) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

By Your Leave takes place in New York City and its surrounding suburbs. The story contrasts the quiet, domestic life of the suburban neighborhoods with the vibrant and tempting nightlife of Manhattan. Key settings include the Smiths' suburban home, city clubs, hotels, and a yacht, creating a clear visual divide between stability and urban adventure.

• setting
• new york city
• suburbs
• manhattan
• locations

The film is set in 1934, reflecting the aesthetic and social atmosphere of Depression-era America. The setting captures a specific moment when married couples faced middle-age restlessness, and the contrast between suburban routine and city nightlife represented the era's tension between economic hardship and the desire for escape.

• 1930s
• depression era
• time period
• 1934

The film explores three interconnected themes: Temptation, as both spouses encounter alluring distractions that test their loyalty; Reconciliation, showing how couples can overcome doubt and insecurity through forgiveness; and Urban Escapism, where the city acts as a liberating yet destabilizing force that amplifies desires and prompts risky decisions.

• themes
• temptation
• reconciliation
• urban escapism
• marriage

New York City functions as more than just a backdrop, it represents freedom, romance, and risk that exists beyond suburban domesticity. The nightlife scene with its clubs, Broadway dancers, and charming strangers creates opportunities for temptation. The urban setting actively drives the emotional arc by presenting choices that challenge the couple's commitment to each other.

• new york city
• nightlife
• urban setting
• city as symbol

Henry Smith is the middle-aged husband in By Your Leave, played by Frank Morgan. He is a suburban husband who feels the spark has faded from his marriage and seeks excitement in New York's nightlife. His vulnerability to temptation and impulsive choices create tension with his wife Ellen, forcing both characters to confront their feelings about fidelity and commitment.

• henry smith
• frank morgan
• husband
• protagonist

Ellen Smith, played by Genevieve Tobin, is Henry's wife who begins as a contented suburban wife but harbors curiosity about life beyond domestic routine. When she ventures into the city, her experiences awaken competing desires. Her character arc involves confronting these feelings and ultimately choosing reconciliation, emphasizing the film's message about partnership and forgiveness.

• ellen smith
• genevieve tobin
• wife
• protagonist

Skeets, played by Gene Lockhart, is Henry's worldly companion who introduces him to New York's nightlife scene. He serves as the embodiment of urban temptations, using cynical wit to persuade Henry into increasingly risky situations. Skeets acts as a catalyst for the couple's entanglements, representing the persuasive pull of irresponsible fun.

• skeets
• gene lockhart
• companion
• temptor

David McKenzie, played by Neil Hamilton, is a charming world traveler who catches Ellen's attention during her city adventure. He represents the allure of exotic freedom and the possibility of escaping ordinary life, taking her to dinner and later onto his yacht. His presence heightens Ellen's awareness of her own desires and the consequences of impulsive choices.

• david mckenzie
• neil hamilton
• world traveler
• love interest

By Your Leave delivers a reassuring, conservative message about marriage. Despite the couple's encounters with temptation and near-misses, they ultimately recognize the depth of their love and choose forgiveness. The film reaffirms that partnership and commitment are stronger foundations than fleeting excitement, ending with the couple choosing their stable life together.

• marriage message
• reconciliation
• happy ending
• commitment

By Your Leave is a lighthearted 1930s comedy, not a serious drama. Even though it deals with marital themes like temptation and infidelity, the tone remains gentle and amusing throughout. The consequences are minimal, the tension never becomes threatening, and the resolution is decisively happy, making this a comforting rather than challenging viewing experience.

• tone
• comedy
• 1930s film
• lighthearted
• genre