Transgression is a 1931 pre-Code American drama film directed by Herbert Brenon, using a screenplay written by Elizabeth Meehan, adapted from Kate Jordan's 1921 novel, The Next Corner.

Required to travel to India for a year to oversee financial matters, English businessman Robert Maury (Paul Cavanagh) is in a quandary regarding his young wife, Elsie (Kay Francis).

In Paris, she falls under the guidance of the sophisticated Paula Vrain (Doris Lloyd), who begins to teach her how to fit into the decadent Parisian lifestyle.

One in particular, a Spanish nobleman named Don Arturo de Borgus (Ricardo Cortez), begins to pay her special attention.

It is shortly after that Serafina arrives, threatening to reveal Elsie and Arturo's relationship to Maury, and claiming that he is carrying the confessional letter.

(Cast list as per AFI database)[1] A remake of the 1924 silent film, The Next Corner, which was produced by Paramount Pictures, was put on RKO's production schedule.

[4] William LeBaron chose Herbert Brenon to helm the picture, and he began working on the project in early February 1931.

[5] Elizabeth Meehan was assigned to adapt Kate Jordan's novel for the screen in early March,[6] which was originally slated to be a starring vehicle for Irene Dunne.

[7] That changed in April when RKO announced that they had borrowed Kay Francis from Paramount to star in the picture; in the same statement, Don Alvarado was also mentioned as a member of the cast, although he was replaced prior to filming.

In addition to Alvardo and Dunne, among those who were attached to the project at various times were: Alphonse DeCruz, Esther Crispin Martini, Wilfred Roy, David Dunbar, and William Welch.

[1] RKO produced a French version of the film titled Nuit d'Espagne, which was directed by Henri de la Falaise.

They called the film a "highly sophisticated drama", but complained that it contained "... little comedy relief and a wealth of talk, but particularly no action.

He did have some reservations about the overall film, however, stating that "It is not endowed with any great degree of subtlety and the comings and goings of the characters are set forth a trifle too abruptly."