An emotionally remote recovering alcoholic and his dowdy, unambitious wife face a personal crisis when they take in an attractive lodger.
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Title: Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Burt Lancaster | ... | Doc Delaney | |
| Shirley Booth | ... | Lola Delaney | |
| Terry Moore | ... | Marie Buckholder | |
| Richard Jaeckel | ... | Turk Fisher | |
| Philip Ober | ... | Ed Anderson | |
| Edwin Max | ... | Elmo Huston | |
| Lisa Golm | ... | Mrs. Coffman | |
 |
Walter Kelley | ... | Bruce Cunningham |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
For two decades Doc and Lola Delaney avoided coming to terms with what Doc considered a "shot gun" marriage. Lola lost the baby and gives a lot of her affection to Sheba, a dog that disappeared a few months before the film opens. Doc blames Lola for having to drop out of medical school and not becoming a "real" doctor. Until joining AA a year ago, his escape was alcohol. Then college student Marie rents a room in their home. Doc feels passion for the first time in 20 years. But Marie has two suitors her age. Lola -- unaware of Doc's emotions --becomes as interested in Marie's future as if Marie were her daughter. Written by Dale O'Connor <daleoc@interaccess.com>
Plot Keywords:
alcoholic | chiropractor | infatuation | dysfunctional marriage | boarding house |Taglines:
That girl in their house spelled trouble!Parents Guide:
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Doc Delaney: [about Marie] She must spend a fortune on bath powders and salts. That whole bathroom smells like a lilac garden.
Lola Delaney: I know. I like it.
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Did You Know?
Goofs
When Doc kisses Lola after lecturing her about spying on the teenagers, his right arm dangles limply as Lola grasps his upper arm. A split second later, it is he that has grabbed Lola's arm and holds her by the upper arm. See more »Quotes
Lola Delaney: I'm too tired to wash my face tonight. Did you?Doc Delaney: [about Marie] She must spend a fortune on bath powders and salts. That whole bathroom smells like a lilac garden.
Lola Delaney: I know. I like it.
See more »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
13 February 1953 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Come Back, Little Sheba See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (TCM print)Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Contribute to This Page
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This is an interesting study about the trials of people dealing with disappointment and alcoholism. Lost dreams have been Doc's excuse for turning to the bottle, and a lost little dog (Sheba) symbolizes his wife's search for herself.
The film based on the play is an early study of the pain of addiction. As Doc tells his wife, "Dreams are strange." There is redemption in the fact that Doc asks for forgiveness as his wife regains her sense of dignity.
Booth gives a very believable performance, and Lancaster is excellent playing a man far older than he was at the time. This is a touching, though simplistic, look at the dark side of human nature.