Babbitt (1934)

Middle-aged George F. Babbitt is a leading citizen in the town of Zenith, the fastest-growing community in America according to its town sign. George is a large part of that growth as a property developer and realtor. He is lovingly married to his wife Myra and they have two almost-adult children, Ted and Verona. George has always had the fearless attitude of a naive child, which has led to his business success. He encounters some personal stresses when he faces what he believes is a potential home-wrecking issue, and when his oldest friend Paul and his wife Zilla deal with domestic problems. These stresses make George want to provide even more to his own family, leading him to agree to participate in a less-than-scrupulous but lucrative business deal. His bravura lands him in a potential scandal, which makes him question his behavior, especially toward his family.