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

Shooting title was "Stopover."

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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

A good starting point - with one of the best in town

Although not in the same class as Douglas Sirk's major melodramas, "All I Desire" has many of the traits that would be developed in these later works. As such it is essential viewing for fans of Sirk's films. His use of color is legendary so much is lost by this being filmed in black and white, the result of a tight fisted Universal Studios.

Fans of Barbara Stanwyk should not miss it either. Stanwyk is one of a handful of actresses who simply never gave a weak performance. Under the direction of the likes of Wilder or Sirk, she's a compelling screen presence. Sirk had great admiration for Stanwyk calling her "one of the best in town". He used her a few years later in "There's Always Tomorrow" which remains his greatest unrecognised opus. There his criticism of the American family values is particularly cutting, whereas "All I Desire" has an altogether more forgiving view of small town narrow mindedness.

Sirks films are always worth watching. They are extremely well crafted with each shot carefully thought out. Nothing is left to chance. Those who dismiss the melodrama as an inferior genre would do well to take a close look at his body of work. "All I Desire" makes a good starting point.