Dodsworth (A or 4/4 stars)
'Dodsworth', based on the famous novel by Sinclair Lewis, is one excellent movie. With a superb cast led by Walter Huston & wonderful direction by the great William Wyler, this film this is one of the best 1930s dramas to have come from Hollywood's Golden Era. The movie opens with mid-western automotive tycoon Samuel Dodsworth (Walter Huston) having just sold his company. With his life ahead of him, 50-ish yr. old Sam plans to spend his retirement traveling Europe with his younger (40-ish yr. old) wife, Fran (Ruth Chatterton) - a high maintenance, vain woman if there ever was one. Whereas Sam wants to do some sightseeing before returning to the states, Fran wants to party, get her hair done, & has NO desire to return home.
On the voyage across the Atlantic, Fran begins what she thinks is an innocent flirtation with a certain Capt. Clyde Lockert (young David Niven). In one scene aboard the Queen Mary, he calls her a tease and warns that she shouldn't begin things she isn't prepared to finish. In Paris, she commences a more serious relationship (this time with a wealthy man played by Paul Lukas) as she and Sam drift farther & farther apart. Finally - and stunningly - she tells him, "Remember, I did make a home for you once, and I'll do it again, only you've got to let me have my fling now! You're simply rushing old age, Sam, and I'm not ready for that yet!" Her ever-patient, adoring husband informs her though, that "You'll have to stop getting younger someday" ... and he heads sadly home without her.
With time, she asks Sam for a divorce to remarry; in this instance, to a much younger man whose Baroness mother (Maria Ouspenskaya) highly disapproves of her. During this stretch, Dodsworth (having returned to Europe to finalize said divorce) starts-up a relationship with a warm-hearted divorcee whom he had met aboard the Queen Mary some months prior, Edith Cortright (Mary Astor). She is everything his wife is not, and imbues Sam with a newly discovered enthusiasm for life. Without getting into fine details about the conclusion, Fran's newest man dumps her & she flees back to her husband. However, Sam Dodsworth must decide whether to take Fran back as he always has ... or choose the new woman in his life.
I knew that 'Dodsworth' was a highly-regarded film that was nominated for 7 Academy Awards in 1936, but this bittersweet tale of heartbreak/the rediscovery of love REALLY set my spirits high. Walter Huston is exceptional here as sympathetic, if over-indulgent Sam Dodsworth. Ruth Chatterton is perfect as the conceited, self-obsessed wife, Fran. Chatterton gives the role jusssst enough shades of humanity to make you doubt your hatred of her, but make no mistake, her Fran is a fairly vile woman. And Mary Astor is simply sublime as the warm, earthy Edith; an independent woman who, nevertheless, is also looking for love. Astor referred to Edith as her favorite role in her long, distinguished career. This film runs just 100 min. in length and, the dignified, compelling story moves swiftly. The dialogue is clever and, as mentioned above, the cast flawless. 'Dodsworth' is a huge surprise for me, & a triumph of a movie.
On the voyage across the Atlantic, Fran begins what she thinks is an innocent flirtation with a certain Capt. Clyde Lockert (young David Niven). In one scene aboard the Queen Mary, he calls her a tease and warns that she shouldn't begin things she isn't prepared to finish. In Paris, she commences a more serious relationship (this time with a wealthy man played by Paul Lukas) as she and Sam drift farther & farther apart. Finally - and stunningly - she tells him, "Remember, I did make a home for you once, and I'll do it again, only you've got to let me have my fling now! You're simply rushing old age, Sam, and I'm not ready for that yet!" Her ever-patient, adoring husband informs her though, that "You'll have to stop getting younger someday" ... and he heads sadly home without her.
With time, she asks Sam for a divorce to remarry; in this instance, to a much younger man whose Baroness mother (Maria Ouspenskaya) highly disapproves of her. During this stretch, Dodsworth (having returned to Europe to finalize said divorce) starts-up a relationship with a warm-hearted divorcee whom he had met aboard the Queen Mary some months prior, Edith Cortright (Mary Astor). She is everything his wife is not, and imbues Sam with a newly discovered enthusiasm for life. Without getting into fine details about the conclusion, Fran's newest man dumps her & she flees back to her husband. However, Sam Dodsworth must decide whether to take Fran back as he always has ... or choose the new woman in his life.
I knew that 'Dodsworth' was a highly-regarded film that was nominated for 7 Academy Awards in 1936, but this bittersweet tale of heartbreak/the rediscovery of love REALLY set my spirits high. Walter Huston is exceptional here as sympathetic, if over-indulgent Sam Dodsworth. Ruth Chatterton is perfect as the conceited, self-obsessed wife, Fran. Chatterton gives the role jusssst enough shades of humanity to make you doubt your hatred of her, but make no mistake, her Fran is a fairly vile woman. And Mary Astor is simply sublime as the warm, earthy Edith; an independent woman who, nevertheless, is also looking for love. Astor referred to Edith as her favorite role in her long, distinguished career. This film runs just 100 min. in length and, the dignified, compelling story moves swiftly. The dialogue is clever and, as mentioned above, the cast flawless. 'Dodsworth' is a huge surprise for me, & a triumph of a movie.