All I Desire (1953)

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

James Gunn (screenplay) and
Robert Blees (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

July 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Now He Knew Her as Other Men Had!

Plot:

In 1910, a wayward mother re-visits the family she deserted.

Plot Keywords:

High School Play | Small Town | Framed Butterfly | Sibling Rivalry | Vaudeville

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck	...	Naomi Murdoch
Richard Carlson	...	Henry Murdoch
Lyle Bettger	...	Dutch Heinemann
Marcia Henderson	...	Joyce Murdoch
Lori Nelson	...	Lily Murdoch
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Sara Harper
Richard Long	...	Russ Underwood
Billy Gray	...	Ted Murdoch
Lotte Stein	...	Lena Engstrom
Dayton Lummis	...	Col. Underwood
Fred Nurney	...	Peterson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donald Kerr	...	Comic (scenes deleted)
Lois Austin	...	Mrs. Underwood (uncredited)
Bobby Barber	...	Porch Loafer (uncredited)
Margaret Bert	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Henry Blair	...	Senior (uncredited)
Lela Bliss	...	Belle Stanton (uncredited)
Virginia Brissac	...	Mrs. Tomlin (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Man in Audience at Play (uncredited)
Budd Buster	...	(uncredited)
Wheaton Chambers	...	Mr. Atkins (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb	...	Hack Driver (uncredited)
Alan DeWitt	...	Printer (uncredited)
Helen Dickson	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Sally Fraser	...	Daughter in Auditorium (uncredited)
Brett Halsey	...	John Lexington in Play (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Man in Audience at Play (uncredited)
Jack Hardin	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Henry Hoople	...	Clay (uncredited)
Thomas E. Jackson	...	Dr. Philip Tomlin (uncredited)
Pat Lane	...	Father (uncredited)
Mary Newton	...	Mrs. Atkins (uncredited)
George Selk	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Jill Taylor	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Gloria Tucker	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Stuart Whitman	...	Dick in Play (uncredited)
Guy Wilkerson	...	Clem (uncredited)
Guy Williams	...	Ticket Taker (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Sirk

Writing credits
James Gunn		(screenplay) and
Robert Blees		(screenplay)
Gina Kaus		(adaptation)
Carol Ryrie Brink		(novel "Stopover") (as Carol Brink)

Produced by
Ross Hunter	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini		(uncredited)
Herman Stein		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Carl E. Guthrie		(as Carl Guthrie)

Film Editing by
Milton Carruth

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen
Bernard Herzbrun

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Rosemary Odell

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mack D'Agostino	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph E. Kenney	....	assistant director (as Joseph E. Kenny)

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Robert Pritchard	....	sound
James V. Swartz	....	sound (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	musical director
Daniele Amfitheatrof	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Milton Rosen	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Hans J. Salter	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
David Tamkin	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Edward Ward	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Kenny Williams	....	choreographer
Jack Daniels	....	dialogue director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical)
• 4 Front Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Carlotta Films (2008) (France) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (The Barbara Stanwyck Collection)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Deluxe Digital Studios  DVD transfer

Also Known As:

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #16364) | Sweden:15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Circle Drive, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Although the exact date is not given, reference is made to Halley's Comet, which appeared in April, 1910.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Russ and Joyce begin kissing on the porch swing, his nose is on her right. After the cut, they've instantly switched positions so that his nose is now on her left.

Quotes:

Naomi Murdoch:You don't know how unimportant success is until you've had it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bens Confiscados (2004)

Soundtrack:

All I Desire

A good starting point - with one of the best in town

Although not in the same class as Douglas Sirk's major melodramas, "All I Desire" has many of the traits that would be developed in these later works. As such it is essential viewing for fans of Sirk's films. His use of color is legendary so much is lost by this being filmed in black and white, the result of a tight fisted Universal Studios.

Fans of Barbara Stanwyk should not miss it either. Stanwyk is one of a handful of actresses who simply never gave a weak performance. Under the direction of the likes of Wilder or Sirk, she's a compelling screen presence. Sirk had great admiration for Stanwyk calling her "one of the best in town". He used her a few years later in "There's Always Tomorrow" which remains his greatest unrecognised opus. There his criticism of the American family values is particularly cutting, whereas "All I Desire" has an altogether more forgiving view of small town narrow mindedness.

Sirks films are always worth watching. They are extremely well crafted with each shot carefully thought out. Nothing is left to chance. Those who dismiss the melodrama as an inferior genre would do well to take a close look at his body of work. "All I Desire" makes a good starting point.