Mrs. Parkington

Mrs. Parkington is a 1944 drama film. It tells the story of a womans life, told in flashbacks, from boarding house maid to society matron. The movie was adapted by Polly James and Robert Thoeren from the novel by Louis Bromfield. It was directed by Tay Garnett and starred Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon appearing together as husband and wife for the fourth time.

While dealing with her family, Susie has flashbacks to her own life. As a teenager, Susie helps her mother run a boarding house for silver miners in Leaping Frog, Nevada. She meets Major Augustus Parkington, the owner of the mine, when he stays at the boardinghouse on a visit the miners complain to him about dangerous working conditions, but he refuses to fix them as it would slow down the yield of the mine, instead paying the miners higher salaries to take the risk and telling them to quit if they are so afraid. Shortly afterwards, a serious mine accident occurs which kills Susies mother along with a number of miners. Rather than leave Susie to an uncertain fate, Augustus marries her and takes her away to New York City. Susie is introduced to Baroness Aspasia Conti Agnes Moorehead, a French aristocrat and close friend and former mistress of Augustus, who helps Susie pick out clothes and learn the social graces needed for a woman of her station. Unbeknownst to Susie, Augustus asks Aspasias help in furnishing a grand house he has built for his wife. Susie, originally grateful for Aspasias help, grows tired of her constant presence.Susie announces that she is pregnant, and Aspasia departs on friendly terms. An elated Augustus holds a ball to celebrate, inviting the wealthiest and most socially prominent citizens of New York, but his happiness turns to fury when most of them refuse to attend due to his blunt, outspoken behavior. His rage upsets Susie, and when she runs away from the dinner party, she falls downstairs and has a miscarriage. Augustus angrily vows revenge against the nonattendees, and unbeknownst to Susie, manages to force many of them out of business over the next few years. Susie only finds out after Mrs. Livingstone Alma Kruger, whose husband is about to be put out of business by Augustus, pleads with Susie for help and informs her that another man committed suicide after Augustus ruined him. Susie has words with Augustus, who remains unrepentant, so

Source: Wikipedia