Peter Ibbetson is a 1935 American romantic drama film directed by Henry Hathaway.
A boy named Gogo grows up in Paris with a somewhat annoying but still good friend named Mimsey. After Gogo's mother dies, Gogo is separated from Mimsey as he moves to England to live with his uncle. Gogo grows up to be Peter Ibbetson (Gary Cooper), an architect. When he is hired by the Duke of Towers for a restoration job, Peter finds himself falling for the Duke's wife Mary (Ann Harding), who he eventually discovers is his childhood sweetheart Mimsey and had been pining for him all these years. The Duke is none-too-pleased with this and tries to shoot Peter, to which Peter retaliates by killing the Duke in self-defense. Peter is sent to prison for life, preventing him and Mary from ever being together, but they discover they can be with each other in their dreams.
Tropes:
- Bittersweet Ending: Despite being unable to be with each other physically, Peter and Mary are able to enjoy a romance in their dreams, where they are forever youthful even as they grow older and frailer. In a sense, they do remain together until their deaths.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Gogo and Mimsey were friends as children. As adults, they have become Peter Ibbetson and Mary, Duchess of Towers, and fall in love despite Mary being married to the Duke.
- Crime of Self-Defense: The Duke points a gun at Peter, so Peter is justified in killing him in self-defense, but he is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
- Shared Dream: Despite being doomed to be apart in reality, Peter and Mary discover they can meet in each other's dreams
- Star-Crossed Lovers: When Peter meets Mary for the first time as adults, she is already married to the Duke, marring the possibility of a romance between them. After Peter kills the Duke, Peter is sentenced to life in prison, so they can never be together except in their dreams.
- Together in Death: Peter and Mary enjoy their literal dream romance for decades. They share one last dream before Mary passes away and Peter, sensing it, follows shortly after.
