The Past of Mary Holmes

The Past of Mary Holmes is a 1933 American PreCode drama film, directed by Slavko Vorkapich and Harlan Thompson, and released by RKO. The film is a remake of the silent film The Goose Woman 1925, which is based on a short story by Rex Beach, partly based on the HallMills murder case.

Meanwhile, Jacob Riggs Simpson, a doorman at the Ethridge theatre, shoots and kills his boss on the evening when he is awaiting his final rendezvous with Joan, due to his constant affairs with innocent women. Mary, who lives next to the place where the crime is committed, sees opportunity in getting recognition and fame as Maria di Nardi, after hearing the gunshots. She fabricates a sensational story for the press and media, unaware that her story implicates Geoffrey as a prime suspect. Following a drunken testimony by Mary, Geoffrey is indicted on circumstantial evidence by a grand jury. Despite denying the testimony when she realizes what she is doing to Geoffrey, he is found guilty and sent to jail, awaiting the death penalty. Overcome with grief, Mary uses Joans help to convince Jacob to turn himself in for the crime. After successfully revealing him as the murderer, Geoffrey is freed from jail and can finally mary Joan. Mary burns down her shanty as a symbolic gesture to leave behind her past, in order to join Geoffrey and her daughterinlaw in a joyful future.Based on the short story of the same name, the film was initially in production under the title The Goose Woman. Initially, screenwriter Samuel Ornitz was to adapt the story with Marion Dix, but Eddie Doherty later took over. ........

Source: Wikipedia