Synopsis

Alcoholic playboy Kyle Hadley marries the woman secretly loved by his poor but hard-working best friend, who in turn is pursued by Kyle's nymphomaniac sister.

An 1956 American drama film directed by Douglas Sirk, Written on the Wind is the story of Marylee Hadley (Dorothy Malone) and her brother Kyle Hadley (Robert Stack) who are the children of a Texas oil baron and the heirs to his empire. Both Marylee and Kyle are spoilt by their privileged and each of them seems completely unable to form any lasting personal relationships.

When Kyle meets Lucy Moore (Lauren Bacall) he impulsively marries her and soon after enters a downward spiral of drinking and anger as he and Lucy have trouble conceiving a child. Kyle’s childhood friend Mitch Wayne (Rock Hudson), who works as a geologist for the oil company falls in love with Lucy, however does not act on his desire.

Kyle soon becomes jealous of Mitch whom his dying father approves of greatly, whilst condemning the actions of his two heirs, and when he discovers he has a low sperm count and then discovers Lucy’s pregnancy, he automatically assumes he has cheated on him with Mitch and physically assaults her causing her to lose the baby.

Mitch, disgusted by Kyle’s behaviour vows to leave with Lucy once she is able to walk much to Kyle’s anger and Marylee’s jealousy, as she has held a secret love for Mitch for many years. Upon Mitch’s return for Lucy, Kyle pulls a pistol on him in a drunken rage and when Marylee tries to stop him the gun goes off and Kyle is shot dead.

Marylee, feeling betrayed by the man who she loved, tries to implicate Mitch in her brothers death and testifies against him at the inquest into Kyle’s death. However in the end she breaks down, revealing the truth and Mitch and Lucy Leave, with Marylee left on her own to run the company.