The early film,
Forbidden (1932), asks the viewers to sympathize with a married politician
and his mistress, who together have a “love child,” even though the politician,
as a governor, finally follows his conscience and admits to the decades-long
affair. Lulu, the mistress, selflessly remains alone and hidden from public
view so Bob can climb the political ladder without scandal. At one point, Bob
offers to leave his wife, Helen, and leave with Lulu for a shared life
somewhere else, but Lulu refuses for the sake of Bob’s career in politics. She
places his interests above her own. The film’s attitude toward the “cheater”
and his mistress ethically is complex, as is human nature itself. The film
presents the complexity that can go with some, but certainly not all, ethical
controversies.
The full essay is at "Forbidden."