Ridiculous Romance

Ward and Marie were more suited for each other as they were not influcened by the ways of city life. Ward is presented as a morally - conscious protagonist, although Louise is shown to have a caring side to her personality she had long been mixed in with Nick's shady world. Therefore it can be suggested that Louise made some decisions that deem her unsuitable for Ward. Thats what makes the ending more powerful besides from Nick's death, Louise walks away from Ward into the night both literally and metaphorically. She belongs to the ways of city life whereas Ward belongs to the simple life of the country.

It may seem ridiculous to some that Ward and Marie got together but I think it was the way in which the Hays Code worked on a moral level that blocked any romance between Ward and Louise. It certainly creates a tragic element to Louise's character.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

Even if he was a simple country boy who didn't know the difference between initial infatuation and true love, those things weren't differentiated in those days and especially not in a romantic movie. Never would you find such a character saying "I got da hots fuh dat dame!" Maybe John Garfield a few years later though.

Now it seems a bit hokey to see these old films show a deep hard fall after a slight meeting. I think back then the concept of "Love at first sight" might have been somewhat accepted by a lot of viewers. Stories were less sophisticated and I really don't think the masses analyzed them too much. Today we've become so jaded that the mere idea of actual love at first sight seems laughable. However; they basically still present it exactly the same way except they draw out the fitting together like water and oil part out for much longer. Is anyone ever fooled when a couple who seem so opposit in their beliefs, and with a deep dislike for each other actually fall in love in the movies? In real life when we meet someone who gets under our skin or rubs us the wrong way...... We don't usually stick around long enough to find out that there might be a side we like.