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| runtime = 75 minutes〔 | country = United States | language = English | budget = $339,000〔Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931–1951', ''Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television'', Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p39〕 | gross = $713,000〔}} ''The Common Law'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code romantic drama film, directed by Paul L. Stein and produced by Charles R. Rogers. Based on Robert W. Chambers' 1911 novel, this was the third time the book was made into a film, and the first during the talking film era. The sexual drama stars Constance Bennett and Joel McCrea in the title roles. It was received well both at the box office and by film critics, becoming one of RKO's most financially successful films of the year. The novel, ''The Common Law'', had been filmed before in 1923 with Corinne Griffith starring. ==Plot== Valerie West is a young American expatriate living with her wealthy lover, Dick Carmedon, in Paris. Tired of the relationship, she moves out, after which she meets another American ex-pat, struggling artist John Neville. She begins modeling for Neville, including some racy nude sittings. At first the relationship is purely business, but the two soon fall in love, and she moves in with him. The two begin to live an idyllic life, despite Carmedon's attempts to get Valerie Back. Unbeknownst to Valerie, Neville is not truly a poor artist, being the son of a wealthy family from Tarrytown, New York. When Neville's sister, Clare Collins, learns of the two living together out of wedlock in Paris, she decides to put an end to the relationship. She enlists a friend of her brother's, Sam, whom goes to Neville and tells him about Valerie's past relationship with Carmedon. Unaware of the hypocrisy of his own actions, since he is living with Valerie in an identical relationship as she had with Carmedon, he becomes extremely jealous. Unable to cope with his jealousy, Valerie moves out. As the months go by, Neville runs into Valerie at a nightclub, where she is out with Querido. While Neville is again jealous, he hides it. Seeing him, Valerie understands her feelings about him and asks him to take her back, which he willingly does, shortly after which he asks her to marry him. She defers, wanting to make sure that their feelings for one another are for real before making that commitment. When Clare hears about their reconciliation, she informs Neville that their father is very ill, and asks that he return home. Bringing Valerie with him, Neville returns to the family estate in Tarrytown. In a last ditch effort to break them up, Clare throws a party on the family yacht, to which she also invites Carmedon and an old girlfriend of Neville's, Stephanie Brown. However, the plan backfires when Carmedon attempts to sexually assault Valerie, and Neville intervenes, knocking Carmedon out. Valerie finally understands that he feels the same way about her as she does about him, and the two dash off to find a justice of the peace to marry them. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Common Law (film)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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