D: Jean de Limur. Jeanne Eagels, O. P. Heggie, Reginald Owen, Herbert Marshall, Irene Brown, Lady Tsen Mei, Tamaki Yoshiwara, Kenneth Thomson. First screen version of Somerset Maugham's play about a woman who murders her lover then trades on her unsuspecting husband's name and reputation to bolster her claim of self-defense. Unseen for decades, this is the first--and only surviving--talkie appearance of the legendary Eagels, who died later that year. Though hampered by primitive sound techniques, it does exert a strange fascination, and her performance justifies her reputation. (It's also more frank than the 1940 remake in which Marshall, who plays the lover here, is cast as the husband.) Though de Limur is the credited director, Monta Bell, billed as "supervisor,'' also had a hand in the script and editing.

D: Lewis Milestone. Joan Crawford, Walter Huston, William Gargan, Guy Kibbee, Walter Catlett, Beulah Bondi. Considered a flop in 1932, this version of Maugham's story looks better today. Crawford is good as South Seas island trollop confronted by fire-and-brimstone preacher Huston. Director Milestone does gymnastics with camera during stagier scenes; an interesting antique. Previously filmed as SADIE THOMPSON, then again as DIRTY GERTIE FROM HARLEM U.S.A. and MISS SADIE THOMPSON. Some prints run 77m.

D: George Cukor. Constance Bennett, Gilbert Roland, Charles Starrett, Anita Louise, Alan Mowbray, Minor Watson, Violet Kemble Cooper. Dated but enjoyable film of Somerset Maugham drawing-room comedy about British lord marrying rich American girl. Costars Bennett and Roland later married in real life.

D: Frank McDonald. Humphrey Bogart, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Woods, Paul Graetz, Gordon Hart, E. E. Clive. Mild remake of Somerset Maugham novel The Narrow Corner, involving love triangle on South Sea island.

D: Ken Annakin, Harold French. James Hayter, Kathleen Harrison, Anne Crawford, Nigel Patrick, Jean Simmons, Michael Rennie. Following the success of QUARTET, three more diverting Somerset Maugham stories, "The Verger,'' "Mr. Knowall,'' and "Sanatorium.'' All beautifully acted.