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 | Gossip | Television | 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		(set decorations)
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)
• Critics' Choice Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

South Korea:12 | USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #17469) | UK:U | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

This film was selected for the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1995.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Carrie starts to leave Ron's mill house (first time), he reminds her to take her boots but he neglects to retrieve her head scarf, which she had removed earlier.

Quotes:

Ned Scott:Holy cat's mother!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No.1 inC minor, Op.68: 4th movement (the Alpenhorn melody)

Wyman and Hudson re-team for this classy melodrama

Due to the success of 1954's "Magnificent Obsession", Universal once again called on Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead, and director Douglas Sirk for this passionate, heart-gripping look at the hypocrisy of small-town America. Wyman, a rich widow in this well-to-do New England town, falls in love with her gardener (Hudson) and all hell breaks loose. Her community ridicules her and her grown children are horrified by her. She finds herself having to choose love or the respect of those around her.

The cinematography is beyond extraordinary, the score by Frank Skinner is unbelievably moving, Wyman is exquisite, and Sirk gives some of the best direction of his career. A really classy melodrama and completely worthwhile.