Dodsworth (1936)

A retired auto manufacturer and his wife take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life.

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Sinclair Lewis (novel), Sidney Howard (dramatisation)

Stars:

Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton, Paul Lukas

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Walter Huston	...	Sam Dodsworth
Ruth Chatterton	...	Fran Dodsworth
Paul Lukas	...	Arnold Iselin
Mary Astor	...	Edith Cortright
David Niven	...	Captain Lockert
Gregory Gaye	...	Kurt Von Obersdorf
Maria Ouspenskaya	...	Baroness Von Obersdorf (as Mme. Maria Ouspenskaya)
Odette Myrtil	...	Renée de Penable
Spring Byington	...	Matey Pearson
Harlan Briggs	...	Tubby Pearson
Kathryn Marlowe	...	Emily Dodsworth McKee
John Payne	...	Harry McKee (as John Howard Payne)

Storyline

A bittersweet tale of the increasing estrangement of a retired automobile tycoon and his wife. Increasingly obsessed with maintaining an appearance of youth, she falls in with a crowd of frivolous socialites during their "second honeymoon" European vacation. He, in turn, meets a woman who is everything she is not: self-assured, self-confident, and able to take care of herself.

---

Plot Keywords:

character name as title | surname as title | middle age | reconciliation | divorce | 

---

Taglines:

From the Secrets of WOMAN'S LOVE-LIFE comes this Heart-stopping story of DEVOTION! SACRIFICE! SHAME!

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mary Astor enjoyed working with William Wyler, finding him to be "an inspirational director, tough and exacting but sensitive." She especially appreciated how he ended the film on a close-up of her, not strictly out of vanity but from the awareness that the audience would enjoy having the story end on the high note of Edith's radiance at seeing Sam return to her.

---

Goofs

Arnold's position changes when he lights the cigarette while Fran reads the letter.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Secretary: [offscreen] Mr. Dodsworth?
Sam Dodsworth: Yes.
Secretary: The men are ready.

---

Alternate Versions

The 1946 re-release, shown on the Turner Classic Movies channel, lists the end credits with a different order: Kathryn Marlowe is listed after Harlan Briggs, and John Payne is listed last, after Marlowe.

---

Connections

Referenced in Barney Miller: Paternity (1981)

---

Soundtracks

La fille aux cheveux de lin
(uncredited)
Written by Claude Debussy
Heard when Fran burns Sam's letter

User Reviews

Sweet Bird of Youth

We're taught to "take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth." [Desiderata.] While most people allow maturation to occur naturally and be at peace with their physical evolvement, some do not.

Like Sinclair Lewis' heroine, people who doggedly resist change may end up disappointed and bitter. Such resistance is the basis for this perceptive adult drama on marital strife.

Ruth Chatterton is ideally cast, looking young while obviously no longer in her early thirties. Her frivolous banter provides a dramatic clash with Walter Hutson's aging hero.

While I find "Dodsworth" strangely depressing, it's a personal reaction, for this is a very well conceived and produced film, securely directed by William Wyler, and solidly scripted by Sidney Howard.

Mary Astor shows warmth as "the other woman" and Spring Byington offers an emotional balance to the proceedings. With excellent cinematography and art direction, "Dodsworth" remains a telling adult drama of the dangers which may transpire by not surrendering youthful matters to advancing years.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German Italian

Release Date:

23 September 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dodsworth

Filming Locations:

Goldwyn Studios, Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1