Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931)

Caught in the merciless jaws of fate, Helga Ohlin, a forsaken orphan, finds herself shackled by the brutal chains of her abusive uncle from a tender age. As she blossoms into womanhood, her uncle coldly engineers her marriage to Jeb Mondstrum, a man drenched in alcohol and haunted by his demons. On a tempest-ridden night, when Jeb's sinister intentions threaten her innocence, Helga escapes, seeking refuge in an obscure garage, away from the storm's wrath. In the midst of this chaos, she encounters Rodney Spencer, an empathetic engineer who, moved by her predicament, offers her shelter. A passionate love affair ensues, but their blossoming romance is abruptly interrupted when Rodney embarks on a six-day trip to Detroit. In his absence, the specters of Helga's past find her, forcing her to flee once again. Aboard a train, she stumbles upon a wandering circus troupe and, out of desperation and fear of the law, she embraces the alias Susan Lenox and joins their nomadic lifestyle. However, her newfound refuge proves to be another prison as Wayne Burlingham, the manipulative circus manager, coerces her into a sordid love affair. When Rodney eventually tracks her down, he is heartbroken by her compromised state, labeling her as a 'gutter girl' and abandoning her. Undeterred, Susan ascends the social ladder, becoming the mistress of a powerful New York politician, Mike Kelly. During a fateful dinner party, Susan crosses paths with Rodney, leading to a bitter confrontation, after which she is left grappling with regret. As Rodney disappears into the dense jungles of the world, Susan embarks on a desperate pursuit to salvage their love. The tale of Susan Lenox is a riveting odyssey of a woman's fall and rise, a tumultuous journey through love, betrayal, and redemption, posing the question: will the tides of destiny ever reunite the star-crossed lovers?

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) is a drama movie featuring Greta Garbo and directed by Robert Z. Leonard.

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) is currently streaming on TCM.