All I Desire (1953)

In 1910, a wayward mother re-visits the family she deserted.

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

James Gunn (screenplay), Robert Blees (screenplay)

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Carlson, Lyle Bettger

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Naomi Murdoch
Richard Carlson	...	Henry Murdoch
Lyle Bettger	...	Dutch Heinemann
Marcia Henderson	...	Joyce Murdoch
Lori Nelson	...	Lily Murdoch
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Sara Harper
Richard Long	...	Russ Underwood
Billy Gray	...	Ted Murdoch
Lotte Stein	...	Lena Maria Swenson
Dayton Lummis	...	Col. Underwood
Fred Nurney	...	Hans Peterson
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donald Kerr	...	Comic (scenes deleted)

Storyline

In 1900, Naomi Murdoch deserted her small-town family to go on the stage. Some ten years later, daughter Lily invites Naomi back to see her in the Riverdale high school play. Her arrival sets the whole town abuzz, wakes up old conflicts, and sets off new emotional storms.

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Plot Keywords:

small town | high school play | poetry reading | poetry recitation | teenager | 

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Taglines:

Now He Knew Her as Other Men Had!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 August 1953 (UK)

Also Known As:

Stopover

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the exact date is not given, reference is made to Halley's Comet, which appeared in April, 1910.

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Goofs

When Russ and Joyce begin kissing on the porch swing, his nose is on her right. After the cut, they've instantly switched positions so that his nose is now on her left.

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Quotes

Lena Engstrom: You're not quitting?
Naomi Murdoch: When you're licked, you have to quit.

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Connections

Referenced in Bens Confiscados (2004)

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Soundtracks

All I Desire
by David Lieberman

User Reviews

What a hoot!

Saw this film yesterday for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a student of screen writing and I loved the way the minor characters intervened just when something pivotal/climatic happened in a scene.

I thought the dialogue was very sharp and the premise of story is rather shocking - at one particular point Barbara Stanwyck is openly flirting with her daughter's boyfriend; AND rekindling some passion in her husband whom she hasn't seen in ten years; AND with the gunshot signal 'two shots and then one' she hooks up with her old shag mate Dutch (the reason she left town in the first place!) ALL AT THE SAME TIME! The moral majority must have been totally incensed when they saw this flick back in the 50's.

Love the costumes and cinematography and the straight from the hip dialogue - just to watch Barbara Stanwyck and Co doing the 'Bunny Hug' is good enough reason to rent this film on DVD.

One of the best films from that period I've seen in a long time.