Strangers May Kiss

Strangers May Kiss

Year: 1931

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

Director: George Fitzmaurice

DramaRomance

After years fending off her former lover Steve, Lisbeth begins a steamy, casual romance with journalist Alan. Though her married aunt Celia urges her to demand commitment, Lisbeth stays with Alan even after hearing he may have a wife in France. When his work sends him abroad, she wrestles with jealousy and confusion over her true feelings.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Strangers May Kiss (1931)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Strangers May Kiss (1931). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New York, Paris, Mexico, Europe

Strangers May Kiss unfolds across cosmopolitan settings, moving from a vacation in Mexico to an arc through Europe, including Paris, and finally to New York. The film uses these cities to highlight freedom, romance, and social perception as the relationships unfold. The locations emphasize a metropolitan backdrop where love and independence are tested against social expectations.

🗽 New York 🗼 Paris 🌍 Europe 🗺️ Mexico

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:36

Main Characters – Strangers May Kiss (1931)

Meet the key characters of Strangers May Kiss (1931), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lisbeth Corbin — Norma Shearer

Lisbeth is a proud, glamorous, and sexually confident woman who believes love should be free from formal marriage. She pursues relationships with men on her own terms, which subjects her to social scrutiny and heartbreak. Her arc traces a search for happiness that resists conventional constraints, ultimately circling back to the possibility of companionship with Alan.

💃 Glamorous 🎯 Free-spirited

Alan Harlow — Neil Hamilton

A newspaper reporter who wants a relationship without binding commitments. He leaves Lisbeth, later divorces his wife, and returns, offering forgiveness but also exposing his own conflicts about fidelity and loyalty. His actions drive the emotional two-step between freedom and responsibility.

🗞️ Ambitious 🧭 Reserved

Steve — Robert Montgomery

Lisbeth's devoted childhood friend who loves her from afar. He watches her with other men while secretly hoping for her happiness. He tracks her down to propose marriage, showing steadfast but unreciprocated affection.

❤️ Loyal 🕊️ Hopeful

Celia — Irene Rich

Lisbeth's aunt who believes that love and marriage are inseparable. Her faith in traditional marriage is shattered by her husband's infidelity, leading to a tragic end. She represents the conventional viewpoint Lisbeth often clashes with.

💍 Traditional 🎭 Judgmental

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:36

Major Themes – Strangers May Kiss (1931)

Explore the central themes of Strangers May Kiss (1931), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love and Freedom

Lisbeth champions love as a free-spirited pursuit rather than a social contract, challenging conventional expectations about marriage. The relationships with Alan and Steve reveal the tension between affection and independence. The film uses travel from Mexico to Europe and back to New York to explore whether true love can coexist with personal freedom, even as social norms press for conformity.

⚖️ Reputation and Judgment

Lisbeth's seductive lifestyle in Paris and Europe subjects her to gossip and scrutiny, reflecting how female sexuality is policed by society. The men in her life reveal different standards—Alan's fear of commitment versus his return with a changed stance—highlighting double standards. The narrative shows how reputation can shape relationships and choices.

🔄 Forgiveness and Reunion

The plot centers on reconciliation as Alan forgives Lisbeth after years apart and after learning of her past. Lisbeth's journey from romantic autonomy back to a committed connection with Alan underscores themes of forgiveness and second chances. The final encounter at the theater frames a hopeful, albeit nuanced, reunion.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:36

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Strangers May Kiss Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Strangers May Kiss, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Strangers May Kiss Summary

Strangers May Kiss Timeline

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Strangers May Kiss Timeline

More About Strangers May Kiss

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