Dodsworth

It is astonishing to think that this Sinclar Lewis film adaptation was made in 1936! Walter Huston is sensational as the retiring tycoon. He is married to Fran, played deliciously by Ruth Chatterton (a character who seems an early version of Meryl Streep's in "Death Becomes Her") Her fear of aging is beautifully drawn and embarrassing to witness. The rich American hicks in Europe are described with humor and compassion but above all with an uncanny understanding of the subject. I loved the structure of the phone calls from Vienna to Naples at a crucial moment in the protagonists future lives. Mary Astor is another standout in a performance of such modernity that one has to remind oneself that this was in fact shot in 1936. The director, William Wyler, was yet to give us some other milestones from "Jezabel" and "The Littlle Foxes" to "Roman Holiday", "Funny Girl" and "Ben Hur" For film lovers this is a must!