Ann Vickers (1933)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Sinclair Lewis (novel)
Jane Murfin (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 October 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Social worker/prison reformer looks for love with men who abuse her, finds herself attracted to a controversial judge.

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Judge | Pregnant | Prison | Abortion

Cast

Irene Dunne	...	Ann Vickers
Walter Huston	...	Barney Dolphin
Conrad Nagel	...	Lindsay Atwell
Bruce Cabot	...	Captain Lafe Resnick
Edna May Oliver	...	Malvina Wormser
Sam Hardy	...	Russell Spaulding
Mitchell Lewis	...	Captain Waldo
Murray Kinnell	...	Dr. Slenk - Copper Gap Warden
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Kitty Cognac
Gertrude Michael	...	Mona Dolphin
J. Carrol Naish	...	Dr. Sorelle (as J. Carroll Naish)
Sarah Padden	...	Lil, a Black Woman
Reginald Barlow	...	Chaplain
Rafaela Ottiano	...	Mrs. Feldermans (as Rafaella Ottiano)

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Director John Cromwell often played uncredited cameos in his films. In this one, he's the sad-faced doughboy at the settlement party; there are three good shots of him looking piningly at Irene Dunne.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the first part of the picture takes place in 1918, all of Irene Dunne's hairstyles and clothes are strictly in the 1933 mode.

Movie Connections:

References Joan the Woman (1917)

Soundtrack:

Till We Meet Again

A Wonderful Women's Film

This is what a woman's film ought to be in this era, not just 70 years ago. The Ann Vickers character is a strong woman devoted to her career and to those who depend on her at the women's prison. She is not without her flaws as any hero or protagonist, but she overcomes so many obstacles and definitely has control over her life. What has happened to strong and complex female roles in modern motion pictures? This movie is well acted, well-written and has a tremendous message. I recommend it to anyone who can get their hands on it, as I believe it is still not available on video. It ranks up there with Norma Shearer's character Jerry in "The Divorcee" as far as a well-developed complex strong female characters. We need more movies depicting our gender this way not just as sex objects but as sexual subjects, with career goals and sex drives. Watch this movie!