The Shining Hour (1938)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Jane Murfin (screenplay) and
Ogden Nash (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

18 November 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A nightclub dancer marries into society and has to contend with her jealous sister-in-law. |

Plot Keywords:

Nightclub | Dancer | Engagement | Family Relationships | Horse Riding

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Olivia Riley
Margaret Sullavan	...	Judy Linden
Robert Young	...	David Linden
Melvyn Douglas	...	Henry Linden
Fay Bainter	...	Hannah Linden
Allyn Joslyn	...	Roger Q. Franklin
Hattie McDaniel	...	Belvedere
Oscar O'Shea	...	Charlie Collins
Frank Albertson	...	Benny Collins
Harry Barris	...	Bertie

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #4770)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Jacques Vanaire is in studio records/casting call lists in the role of "Waiter," but he did not appear or was not identifiable in the movie.

Quotes:

Judy Linden: Hannah's quoting the bible again. One of these days we're going to put her in all the hotel rooms.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chris & Don. A Love Story (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Farmer in the Dell

MGM high-style at its best

A perfect example of the Thalberg/Selnick/MGM high-style at its most polished. Flawlessly directed by the under-rated contract director Frank Borzage, the film features superb ensemble work from the entire stellar cast plus an unusually malicious turn by Fay Bainter who never quite showed her lady-like fangs like this before. Adapted from a well-made Broadway play of 1934, the sexual tension between the two unloving couples could never be realized as it might have been had there not been censorship so instead of a little explosive adultery and fiery hanky-panky, as the plot seems to suggest, we end up with a hot summer night instead with everyone complaining about the heat until the "burning" resolution --but not the one you might think. (Had Tennessee Williams been around in those days we might have had an entirely different ending.) Yes, it is definitely a soap opera but MGM always gave us the best soap money could buy!