Edwin Pereyra
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 1998
- Messages
- 3,500
Rarely do we see a film nowadays from Hollywood about middle aged characters actually played by middle aged actors with realistic storylines dealing with problems of this group of people and their disintegrating relationships. A film devoid of any teenage characters whose sole purpose at times is to draw them into a film only to ensure some financial success from the box office receipts of this demographic group.
Dodsworth from director William Wyler (Jezebel, Wuthering Heights, Ben-Hur is one of those films about grownups for grownups. The film knows what it wants to be and goes for it. It is a film that still resonates with today’s mature audiences because, among other things, of its honesty and reality based themes.
Based on a Sinclair Lewis novel, which was also adapted into a stage play, the film is about Sam Dodsworth (Walter Huston), a successful businessman who had just sold his automobile company at the urging of his wife Fran (Ruth Chatterton). Both go on an extended holiday in Europe. While Sam finds Europe to be boring, Fran sees it as a land of sophisticates quite different from the American mid-westerners she has been around with most of her life. Being a few years younger than Sam, she aspires to enjoy Europe for a while and be a part of its high society. As she attracts other men during this trip, it puts a strain and a serious challenge to their relationship and marriage as Sam seeks solace with another sympathetic woman (Mary Astor).
Dodsworth received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Huston), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Maria Oupenskaya), Best Screenplay (Sidney Howard) and Best Sound. Its sole Oscar win went to Richard Day for Best Interior Decoration.
Walter Huston is very impressive here. He exudes a commanding presence whenever he is onscreen. He portrays Sam Dodsworth as an unwavering and gentle businessman, husband and family man with a quiet dignity. The New York Film Critics Circle Award named Huston “Best Actor” that year. At the same time, Ruth Chatterton brings depth to her character despite one that is primarily written as a selfish and vain person. We are able to see her frustrations at another level instead of just feeling anger and hatred towards her character and her motivations.
Dodsworth remains smart, sophisticated and absorbing now as it was 60 years ago. It’s stature as one of the greatest films of the 1930’s holds up through today due to its unsentimental approach, impeccable performances and intelligent writing.
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Film Greats – A continuing quick look at motion pictures that, in one way or another, have been called “great films” by some. Other Films In This Series: Jean-Luc Godard’s http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/007615.html http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/006466.html
Dodsworth from director William Wyler (Jezebel, Wuthering Heights, Ben-Hur is one of those films about grownups for grownups. The film knows what it wants to be and goes for it. It is a film that still resonates with today’s mature audiences because, among other things, of its honesty and reality based themes.
Based on a Sinclair Lewis novel, which was also adapted into a stage play, the film is about Sam Dodsworth (Walter Huston), a successful businessman who had just sold his automobile company at the urging of his wife Fran (Ruth Chatterton). Both go on an extended holiday in Europe. While Sam finds Europe to be boring, Fran sees it as a land of sophisticates quite different from the American mid-westerners she has been around with most of her life. Being a few years younger than Sam, she aspires to enjoy Europe for a while and be a part of its high society. As she attracts other men during this trip, it puts a strain and a serious challenge to their relationship and marriage as Sam seeks solace with another sympathetic woman (Mary Astor).
Dodsworth received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Huston), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Maria Oupenskaya), Best Screenplay (Sidney Howard) and Best Sound. Its sole Oscar win went to Richard Day for Best Interior Decoration.
Walter Huston is very impressive here. He exudes a commanding presence whenever he is onscreen. He portrays Sam Dodsworth as an unwavering and gentle businessman, husband and family man with a quiet dignity. The New York Film Critics Circle Award named Huston “Best Actor” that year. At the same time, Ruth Chatterton brings depth to her character despite one that is primarily written as a selfish and vain person. We are able to see her frustrations at another level instead of just feeling anger and hatred towards her character and her motivations.
Dodsworth remains smart, sophisticated and absorbing now as it was 60 years ago. It’s stature as one of the greatest films of the 1930’s holds up through today due to its unsentimental approach, impeccable performances and intelligent writing.
- - -
Film Greats – A continuing quick look at motion pictures that, in one way or another, have been called “great films” by some. Other Films In This Series: Jean-Luc Godard’s http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/007615.html http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/006466.html