Dodsworth

9/23/19361h 41m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Here is a picture that was marked for greatness before it was ever screened! ~

Overview:

A retired auto manufacturer and his wife take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life.

Director:

William Wyler

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

husband wife relationship
soulmates
snob
retirement
industrialist
drifting
love affair
divorcee
older woman younger man relationship
selfishness
ocean voyage
drifting apart
starting over
fling
marital crisis
europe vacation
wealthy couple
middle aged couple
kindred spirit
chance reunion

Cast

Walter Huston

~ as ~

Sam Dodsworth

Ruth Chatterton

~ as ~

Fran Dodsworth

Paul Lukas

~ as ~

Arnold Iselin

Mary Astor

~ as ~

Edith Cortright

David Niven

~ as ~

Captain Clyde Lockert

Gregory Gaye

~ as ~

Baron Kurt Von Obersdorf

Maria Ouspenskaya

~ as ~

Baroness Von Obersdorf

Odette Myrtil

~ as ~

Renée de Penable

Spring Byington

~ as ~

Matey Pearson

Harlan Briggs

~ as ~

Tubby Pearson

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
7
The title of this doesn't help it much: it sounds like it ought to be about a butler in a grand old English stately home but Walter Huston ("Sam") is superb, as the millionaire motor car industrialist who sells his company and sets off with wife "Fran" (Ruth Chatteron) to "do" Europe. Even on the boat, where she meets the rather suave, dapper David Niven ("Capt. Lockert") it starts to become clear that their marriage, though on the face of it loving, is not strong. When they get to Paris and she meets Paul Lukas ("Iselin") that becomes even more evident and soon "Sam" is doing all he can to keep the wife he loves from divorcing him. This is quite a slow burn of a story; but it isn't dull. The rapport between the two stars is tenderly and honestly performed; she the slightly younger woman looking for what ever life (and wealth) can offer; him the more settled man who wants to get back to family, home and hearth. There are a few gentle twists to the story and the ending, I found to be somewhat vindicating. This has made the transition from stage to screen well; William Wyler has managed to lose much the rigidity theatrical cross-overs can present on the big screen, and there is a nice cameo from Maria Ouspenskaya towards the end that really does put a fly in the ointment.