Susan and God (1940)

Susan Trexel is a wealthy socialite, who while vacationing in Europe undergoes a religious transformation. On her return to America, Susan takes on the task of spreading her new found ... See full summary »

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Anita Loos (screen play), Rachel Crothers (based on the celebrated play by)

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Fredric March, Ruth Hussey

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Susan
Fredric March	...	Barrie
Ruth Hussey	...	Charlotte
John Carroll	...	Clyde
Rita Hayworth	...	Leonora
Nigel Bruce	...	'Hutchie'
Bruce Cabot	...	Michael
Rose Hobart	...	Irene
Constance Collier	...	Lady Wigstaff
Rita Quigley	...	Blossom
Gloria DeHaven	...	Enid
Richard Crane	...	Bob (as Richard O. Crane)
Norma Mitchell	...	Paige
Marjorie Main	...	Mary
Aldrich Bowker	...	Patrick

Storyline

Susan Trexel is a wealthy socialite, who while vacationing in Europe undergoes a religious transformation. On her return to America, Susan takes on the task of spreading her new found religious experience with her closest friends - only to drive them crazy. Meanwhile, her husband Barrie, and daughter Blossom yearn for a stable family life. Barrie will even become sober, hoping that Susan will heed her own advice, and save their marriage and family.

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Plot Keywords:

transformation | socialite | marriage | self absorption | alcoholic | 

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Taglines:

Saint... Or Screwball?

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 June 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Teorias de Susana

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,103,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Loew's

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play was originally bought for Norma Shearer. She balked at playing the mother of a 14-year old, so Joan Crawford got the role.

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Quotes

Susan Trexel: If you want to know anything about this glamour business, just come to your mother.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Joan Crawford (1962)

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Soundtracks

"Goodnight, Sweetheart"
(1931) (uncredited)
Written by Ray Noble, Jimmy Campbell, and Rudy Vallee
Played as background music at the end of the party

User Reviews

Susan and God and Tears of Boredom

For all us Joan Crawford fans, there's lots to like in "Susan and God." Her costumes by Adrian are fabulously outrageous, she delivers rapid-fire dialog, and she's supported by a A-list cast of actors, including Fredric March and Rita Hayworth. Crawford makes one of her best entrances ever in this movie, perched dramatically on the bow of a speedboat as it whisks her into the country estate of a socialite friend. It's an unforgettable image of glamour, grace and style. She looks fantastic throughout the movie, certainly at the height of her beauty -- more than enough to keep any Crawford fan glued to the screen.

But on the downside, there's tons of tedious dialog and far too many dull plot machinations from an overcrowded cast. There's also a cloying and obnoxious performance from Rita Quigley as Crawford's neglected teen daughter. One brilliant highlight is the cameo performance by Constance Collier as Crawford's religious guru. Collier -- much spoken about earlier in the movie -- appears late in the second act to demonstrate the power of her movement. Unfortunately, although this vehicle worked on the New York stage, but filmed here it really left at least this viewer cold.

Director Cukor appeared to be way out of his element, relating this story of a society woman's religious awakening -- a topic seldom handled in Hollywood. Everyone's motivations remain unclear, especially Crawford's as the intrusive Susan, who takes it upon herself to direct everyone's life to the religion that she has embraced. Poor Fredric March fares no better as Susan's estranged alcoholic husband.

At nearly two hours, "Susan and God" works well as a sedative, lulling audiences into a deep and restful sleep.