Appassionata on AllMovie

Also known as L'Appassionata, this intense romantic drama was adapted from the novel and play by Pierre Fronday. Renee Heribel is cast as Charlotte, the impressionable wife of painter Langur (played by co-director Leon Mathot). Ever in search of "true romance," Charlotte enters into an affair with poet Stifani (Ferdinand Fabre), who in turn is dallying with his longtime mistress Bianca (Ruth Weyher). When Bianca walks out on him, Stifani turns to Charlotte for solace, and before long their casual romance deepens into true love -- or at least it does so far as Charlotte is concerned. Eventually, however, Charlotte tires of Stifani's lack of commitment and returns to Langur. A brief reunion between Charlotte and Stifani is ruined when the latter pledges eternal devotion to his former mistress Bianca. The heartbroken Charlotte contracts pneumonia and dies, motivating Langur to seek vengeance against Stifani. Langur almost weakens in this resolve, but upon being confronted by Stifani's callous indifference, the painter kills the poet without so much as a second thought.