All That Heaven Allows (1955)

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

Peg Fenwick (screenplay)
Edna L. Lee (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 December 1955 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

How much does Heaven Allow a Woman in Love?

Plot:

An upper-class widow falls in love with a much younger, down-to-earth nurseryman, much to the disapproval of her children and criticism of her country club peers.

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Tree | Country Club | Gossip | New England

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jane Wyman	...	Cary Scott
Rock Hudson	...	Ron Kirby
Agnes Moorehead	...	Sara Warren
Conrad Nagel	...	Harvey
Virginia Grey	...	Alida
Gloria Talbott	...	Kay
William Reynolds	...	Ned
Charles Drake	...	Mick Anderson
Hayden Rorke	...	Dr. Hennessy
Jacqueline deWit	...	Mona Plash (as Jacqueline de Wit)
Leigh Snowden	...	Jo-Ann
Donald Curtis	...	Howard Hoffer
Alex Gerry	...	George Warren
Nestor Paiva	...	Manuel
Forrest Lewis	...	Mr. Weeks
Tol Avery	...	Tom Allenby
Merry Anders	...	Mary Ann
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Helen Andrews	...	Myrtle (uncredited)
Eleanor Audley	...	Mrs. Humphrey (uncredited)
Lillian Culver	...	Mrs. Taylor (uncredited)
Jack Davidson	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Alan DeWitt	...	Stationmaster (uncredited)
Helen Dickson	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Donna Jo Gribble	...	Miss Taylor (uncredited)
Jim Hayward	...	John (uncredited)
Helene Heigh	...	Ann (uncredited)
David Janssen	...	Freddie Norton (uncredited)
Anthony Jochim	...	Mr. Adams (uncredited)
Paul Keast	...	Mark Plash (uncredited)
Jack Lomas	...	Fred (uncredited)
Joseph Mell	...	Mr. Gow - the Butcher (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Country Club Member (uncredited)
Vernon Rich	...	Bill (uncredited)
Gia Scala	...	Manuel's Daughter (uncredited)
Edna Smith	...	Miss Edna Pidway (uncredited)
Paul Smith	...	Tom - Christmas Tree Vendor (uncredited)
Ted Stanhope	...	Country Club Waiter (uncredited)
Rosa Turich	...	Rozanna - Manuel's Wife (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Sirk

Writing credits
Peg Fenwick		(screenplay)
Edna L. Lee		(story) and
Harry Lee		(story)

Produced by
Ross Hunter	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Gross
Fred Baratta		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen
Eric Orbom

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas		(gowns)

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

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph E. Kenney	....	assistant director (as Joseph E. Kenny)
George Lollier	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Gordon McLean	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Joe Lapis	....	sound
Frank Gorback	....	microphone technician (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ledge Haddow	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Edward Hobson	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Philip H. Lathrop	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Max Nippell	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Dean Paup	....	key grip (uncredited)
Kenneth Smith	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rose Brandi	....	wardrobe supervisor: Jane Wyman (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor

Other crew
William Fritzsche	....	Technicolor color consultant
Jack Daniels	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Betty A. Griffin	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI) (presents) (as Universal-International) (as A Universal - International Picture also)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (as Universal International)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal-International (1956) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Critics' Choice Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor and Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | South Korea:12 | USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #17469) | UK:U | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Originally, Douglas Sirk wanted the film to end with Ron's downfall after he recognizes Cary, leaving it open if Ron would survive or not. Producer Ross Hunter found that ending way too "depressing" and "disturbing" for the audience and therefore decided to go with a conventional happy end - which is the one we know today.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The town is Stonington but on a store window it says Stoningham.

Quotes:

Ron Kirby:I can't shoot straight anymore.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Fassbinder in Hollywood (2002)

Soundtrack:

Joy to the World

It's Sirk-o-riffic!

Amazingly fantastic film that I went gaga over today. I had never seen any of Douglas Sirk's movies up til today, and boy, was "All That Heaven Allows" a great introduction! The film follows the romance of Cary (played by Jane Wyman) and Ron (Rock Hudson). Cary is a well-off widower who somehow falls in love with her gardener much to her surprise. The problem that she has to overcome of course, is What Will The Neighbors Think? Yes, boys and girls, we have the classic 50's scandal. An older woman being with a younger man!! OK, let it be known that I LOVED this movie. Jane Wyman is fantastic here, and Rock Hudson? Well, what can I say? I can fully understand why he was considered a hug heartthrob in his day. Sure the plot is totally overblown and melodramatic, but I don't care, because Wyman and Hudson make it work so well, and have so much chemistry together.

It's so easy to watch this film and see how much Sirk influenced other directors, even though he was quite ridiculed for the same influences, his camera work, and especially his lighting choices you can see in a myriad of other movies since (see of course, the ultimate salute to him, Far From Heaven as an excellent example).

A simply fantastic piece of film-making here!