Dodsworth
|
Our Price: $46.89 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $18.03 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Dodsworth
Movie Review: One of the True Cinematic Greats
Summary: 5 Stars
It would be difficult to find a more sterling example than "Dodsworth" of what the American cinema can do when it turns to our own fine literature for a story, and then utilizes first-class scriptwriting, expert direction, and a magnificent cast to bring that story to life onscreen.
This tale of a successful American industrialist retiring between the two World Wars, and the impact of his retirement on his long-time marriage, is based upon the novel of the same name by Sinclair Lewis. In the tradition of good storytelling, the film explores social and cultural values through character development and personal conflict.
Samuel Dodsworth represents the best in American business: a man who has done well not only because he is shrewd and hardworking, but because he subscribes doggedly to old-fashioned principles of upright behavior. He has applied these principles both to his business and his personal life. As the film opens, Sam says farewell to the successful auto plant he has built up in a small city somewhere in the midwest, and which he has just sold. He departs having earned the respect and affection of all his workers, and now he prepares to take his wife on that long-deferred trip to Europe they have dreamed of for years. They have a newly married daughter, their parenting responsibilities are over, thanks to the sale of the auto plant they have plenty of money, and they are now setting off to enjoy the first phase of what, ostensibly, is a well-earned, leisured retirement.
Sam adores his wife, Fran, a still-pretty and elegant blonde just entering middle age. Fran, however, has no intention of acknowledging her incipient middle-age, and we soon see that husband and wife have very different expectations of their European voyage. Sam sees the trip as a chance, at last, to indulge his burning curiosity about the rest of the world in the company of the woman he has always loved. Fran sees the trip as a first step to grander social horizons that she clearly feels she has always been cut out for, but that were out of reach in the provincial midwest. Fran brings along an extensive, costly wardrobe and the first thing she does is overdress for dinner on their first night at sea. As their journey progresses, the shallowness of Fran's values are increasingly exposed. She is seduced by the gloss of European culture and sophistication she encounters without questioning whether anything more solid lies beneath. She begins to view her marriage, as well as her midwestern home base, as insufficient showcases for her true destiny as a Great Lady. She begins flirtations with European men whose values in such matters she does not quite grasp, and gets into trouble. Little by little, as their journey progresses, the couple's at first seemingly small differences in personal and world views widen into larger and larger fissures, until a major crisis occurs. Sam is deeply hurt and confronts decisions that violate his long-held principles, while Fran deludes herself into false hopes for her future.
The cast is, without exception, superb. Exceptional mention must go to Ruth Chatterton for her brittle yet vulnerable portrayal of Fran - she nearly walks off with the movie. Walter Huston as Sam manages to combine strength of character with a wistfulness that is touching in so strong a man. Mary Astor, as Edith Cortright, the woman Sam meets in Europe whose values are so much closer to his than Fran's, brings all her accustomed intelligence and taste to this role. A young David Niven appears as the first of Fran's European flirtations. And, in an unforgettable scene, Maria Ouspenskaya, in a brief role as the formidable Baroness von Obersdorf, tells Fran the truth about herself as no one else has quite dared to.
Quiet and literate as it is, this is a riveting film. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn, "Dodsworth" richly deserves its place in the highest ranks of American cinema - once seen, its characters will remain clearly etched in memory.
Movie Review: don't dodge "Dodsworth" - A True American Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
"A man's wife has more power over him than the state has."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Based on the 1929 classic novel by Sinclair Lewis, this 1936 adaptation is simply one of the finest American films of all-time. Directed by the legendary William Wyler ("Roman Holiday", "Ben-Hur", "The Little Foxes", "Mrs. Miniver", "The Best Years of Our Lives", etc...) and starring Walter Huston in the lead role as Sam Dodsworth, a self-made millionaire who at the start of the film has just retired after selling his automobile company. Sam and his younger, pretentious wife Fran (Ruth Charleston), a woman who is completely athirst at preserving her waning youthful appearance, decide to take their "second honeymoon" on a long excursion to Europe.
Dodsworth, a powerful business tycoon, and a man who far from lacks common sense and confidence, completely lets his affected, self-absorbed spouse walk all over him. It doesn't take long on their European vacation for the flirtatious, frivolous Fran to start having an affair (a common faux pas of those going through a mid-life crisis). Yet, loyal and loving to a fault, Sam doesn't wish to acknowledge all of her many shortcomings and continues to have faith that his needy, naive wife will someday see the light and come back to him. He also begins up a platonic friendship with another woman Edith Cortright (Mary Astor), who in many ways is the complete antithesis of Fran. She is a simple woman of kindness who possesses an air of quiet confidence, and a heart of gold. Edith, like Sam, is also completely unaffected and the two of them can't help but be attracted to each other. What unfolds for us the audience, is a bittersweet tale of a crumbling marriage and a man's self-discovery.
I can't say enough about the acting in this fine film. Walter Huston gives, in my opinion, one of the greatest acting performances not only of his career, but of any actor in the history of American cinema. There is something so human, so consummately vulnerable about his character that makes it impossible (just as with Edith in the story) to not only feel empathetic but also tenderness toward his plight. Many of us have experienced in our lifetimes unrequited love by either a significant other or even a spouse, and Huston's performance as the 'whipping boy' is simply on the money. I would be amiss, if I also didn't acknowledge the great character actress Mary Astor's performance as well. I have seen her in a handful of other films, and while she has always been great, her understated effort in this classic is simply a thing of beauty.
"Dodsworth" was nominated for seven Oscars (including Best Picture, Director and Actor for Huston) and possesses everything you look for in a great movie - great acting led by one of the greatest directors ever in Wyler, excellent writing, sound, art direction, etc... It also boasts one hec of a supporting cast - David Niven, Paul Lukas, John Payne, Harlan Briggs, Gregory Gay, Odette Myrtil, Spring Byington, and the illustrious Russian actress Maria Ouspenskaya (nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar). The latter, although not on the screen for very long, has one of the most memorable scenes in the film and it's a real treat to witness such masterful work.
If you haven't seen this one yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It is one of those films in which you will never forget. I can't recommend this one enough!
Movie Review: did you ever notice how transparent people are when you REALLY look at them?
Summary: 5 Stars
Dodsworth is an outstanding motion picture that portrays a marriage between two middle-aged "empty-nesters" who quickly find themselves at odds over how they wish to lead their lives when the husband sells his huge business and retires. The acting is convincing and very memorable; the cinematography and the choreography make Dodsworth even better. The plot moves along at a good pace although there were a few times I felt it could have been edited just a bit; but overall this is a very good movie indeed.
When the action starts, we see somewhat depressed middle-aged Sam Dodsworth (Walter Huston) leaving his automobile company after building it up for decades; he has sold it and he now wishes to retire. His snooty wife Fran (Ruth Chatterton), however, is extremely sensitive and even neurotic about her becoming "old" even though she doesn't look anywhere near it. Soon Fran convinces Sam that maybe they need to have some adventure to spice up their new lives together so they set sail on the Queen Mary to go sightseeing in Europe.
And this is precisely where the real trouble begins. Although Sam meets a divorcee named Edith Cortright (Mary Astor), Sam and Edith keep it strictly friends as they enjoy each other's company, socializing a bit as the ship nears its port in London. Unfortunately, however, Fran Dodsworth is already beginning to get the itch for another man. She is almost swept off her feet by a young man named Captain Clyde Lockert (David Niven) but she just manages to rebuff him in time. After Sam and Fran are actually in Europe, however, it isn't long before Fran gets another quasi-surreptitious suitor named Arnold Iselin (Paul Lukas). Now the marriage truly starts to crumble: We see Sam Dodsworth return to America without his wife Fran who stays on in Europe having what is presumably a most romantic affair with Arnold. Sam suspects something is up; he returns to Europe to confront both Arnold and Fran in a European hotel room where Fran does some mighty fine performing to pretend she's so very innocent. No matter, Sam is STILL willing to "wipe the slate clean" but Fran may not be able to resist the temptation to start life again with another man.
Will Fran meet yet another man in Europe after Sam again goes back to America--and will they be able to get married if Fran can get a divorce from Sam? The answer could surprise you. And what about Sam's relationship with Edith Cortright after they have a chance meeting in Italy--will they be able to stay just friends? Watch the movie and find out!
Dodsworth, no doubt, is one of the finest early portrayals of a marriage crumbling into divorce at a time when the real world still considered divorce a scandalous shame at best. I highly recommend this movie for many reasons; again as I mentioned the acting is superlative and the subject matter is dealt with very well. Fans of the actors in this movie will no doubt enjoy it as well.
Movie Review: Dodsworth Movie Review from The Massie Twins
Summary: 5 Stars
Dodsworth is one of those rare monumental movies that strike an emotional chord with audiences by focusing on delicate subject matter way ahead of its time. It is a masterful examination of love and romance being affected by both aging and differences in age and a heavy-hitting reflection on second chances and preserving youth, all conducted in tear-jerking seriousness. Amazing performances, unforgettable moments and sensational music make Dodsworth one of the greatest romantic dramas of all time.
After 20 years of both marriage and success as a great industrialist, Samuel Dodsworth (Walter Huston) sells off Dodsworth Motors and plans to make a new life in retirement, learning how to enjoy leisure. He's thrilled to take a cruise to Europe with his wife Fran (Chatterton) who is chiefly concerned with staying young and preserving her ideals of youth. Sam is easily entertained with the friendly people and simple tourist attractions, but Fran feels stifled by his old-fashioned outlook and begins to drift away - flirting with a captain (David Niven) and the smooth-talking Iselin (Paul Lukas) and finally attracting the attentions of a Baron (Gregory Gaye). When Sam wishes to return to their comfortable hick hometown of Zenith, she can only think of her high class friends and his unimpressive bourgeois ideas.
Sam returns to his home companionless to learn that his daughter Emily will be having a baby - and that he's dreadfully lonely without the wife he's always loved. In a last attempt to win her back, he resorts to ruthless measures to catch Fran cheating - and although guilt drives her to him, they soon grow even further apart. Even her joy of hearing about Emily's new child is lessened when Dodsworth hints at their new grandparent status. When Fran finally demands a divorce so she can wed the Baron, Sam is consumed with grief and weightily journeys around Europe to forget - and luckily reunites with a widowed acquaintance (Mary Astor) who is familiar with his marital woes. (The most affecting scene in the film is when Sam boards a train after Fran announces her plans to wed - and bids farewell with an absolutely heartbreaking, disillusioned sentimental remark.)
It's heart-wrenching and poignant and very serious in its approach to dramatic romance. The plot may sound like a soap opera, but the acting and execution is absolutely perfect. The hero must undergo great emotional torment in his journey to re-discovering the excitement he never achieved with his younger wife. But Dodsworth is a film that knows how to win over audiences - not only does it think of appropriate happiness for the lead, it also insists upon total destruction for the wrongdoer; typical Golden-Age Hollywood influence that orders standing-ovation resolutions.
- Mike Massie
Movie Review: Wyler's Mature and Masterful Film Holds Up Beautifully
Summary: 5 Stars
This one is a gem, and along with "The Best Years of Our Lives", director William Wyler's best film, which is high praise since he has one of the most impressive canons in Hollywood history. This 1936 classic has to be one of the most mature views of marriage and divorce ever provided by the Hollywood studio system, and the cinematic translation of Sinclair Lewis' novel also represents Wyler's signature humanism at its most absorbing. The story centers on the Dodsworths - Sam is a millionaire industrialist who just sold his large automotive company so he can enjoy life with his vainglorious wife Fran, perpetually restless and fearful of getting old. They sail to Europe, as they usually did in 1930's romantic melodramas, and Fran wastes no time in flirting with Clyde Lockert, a young and perceptive lothario who sees the aging Fran for the fraud she is but pursues her anyway. This turns out to be the first of three liaisons Fran selfishly pursues, as the prospect of becoming a grandmother sends her over the edge while Sam patiently waits for her to come to her senses.
Walter Huston gives one of the great screen performances as Sam, perfectly evoking his everyman demeanor in either full bluster or shades of subtlety. In a particularly brave turn, Ruth Chatterton plays his fortyish wife with palpable desperation and vindictive fervor, conveying the pretentiousness of a woman who wants to be Continental but never will be. She loses viewer sympathy with appropriate fearlessness but also with an interesting ambiguity that prevents her from being a stock villainess. In one of his earliest roles, David Niven already displays his trademark cavalier wit as Lockert. Paul Lukas plays the dapper but oily Arnold Iselin, who memorably confronts Sam's hold over Fran with a burning letter on a Lake Geneva villa terrace. Spring Byington has a nice scene as Matey, a friend back home who silently recognizes Fran's indiscretion, and in a memorable cameo, Maria Ouspenskaya shows up as the mother of Fran's new and even younger intended and stops her cold with one classic question, "Have you thought how little happiness there could be for the old wife of a young husband?". Although Mary Astor usually plays the villainous female, this time she plays Sam's new love, Edith Cortright, with such quiet maturity and infectious liberation that it makes the union between her and Sam all but inevitable. Her look of surprise at the end is a wonderfully romantic moment. Full of shrewd observations and barbed dialogue that resonates beautifully, Sidney Howard's screenplay cuts like glass at every plot turn. This is dazzling work by one of the true greats of filmmaking.