All That Heaven Allows (1955)

An upper-class widow falls in love with a much younger, down-to-earth nurseryman, much to the disapproval of her children and criticism of her country club peers.

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

Peggy Thompson (screenplay) (as Peg Fenwick), Edna L. Lee (story)

Stars:

Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jane Wyman	...	Cary Scott
Rock Hudson	...	Ron Kirby
Agnes Moorehead	...	Sara Warren
Conrad Nagel	...	Harvey
Virginia Grey	...	Alida Anderson
Gloria Talbott	...	Kay Scott
William Reynolds	...	Ned Scott
Charles Drake	...	Mick Anderson
Hayden Rorke	...	Dr. Dan Hennessy
Jacqueline deWit	...	Mona Plash (as Jacqueline de Wit)
Leigh Snowden	...	Jo-Ann Grisby
Donald Curtis	...	Howard Hoffer
Alex Gerry	...	George Warren
Nestor Paiva	...	Manuel
Forrest Lewis	...	Mr. Weeks

Storyline

Cary Scott is a widow with two grown children. She's been leading a quiet life since her husband died, socializing with a small circle of friends. Her children no longer live with her full-time but come home every weekend. She's not unhappy but also doesn't realize how bored she is. Her friend Sara Warren encourages her to get a television set to keep her company but she doesn't want that either. She develops a friendship with Ron Kirby who owns his own nursery and comes every spring and fall to trim her trees. Ron is much younger than Cary and their friendship soon turns to love. Her circle of friends are surprised that she is seeing such a younger man and she might be prepared to overlook that - Ron certainly doesn't care about the differences in their ages - but when her son and daughter vehemently object, she decides to sacrifice her own feelings for their happiness. Over time however, she realizes that her children will be spending less and less time with her as they pursue their...

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Plot Keywords:

widow | gossip | older woman younger man relationship | star crossed lovers | melodrama | 

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Taglines:

How much does Heaven Allow a Woman in Love?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was selected for the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1995.

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Goofs

We first see Cary drive a 1955 2 door Lincoln but several scenes later she is driving a 4 door Lincoln. It is possible that Cary, a recent widow, still had both the car she normally drove and her late husbands. This would account for the two different cars.

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Quotes

Kay Scott: Personally, I never subscribed to that old Egyptian custom. At least I think it was Egypt.
Cary Scott: What Egyptian custom?
Kay Scott: Of walling up the widow alive in the funeral chamber of her dead husband along with all of his other possessions. The theory being that she was his possession too so she was supposed to journey into death with him. And the community saw to it that she did. Course that doesn't happen anymore.
Cary Scott: Doesn't it? Well, perhaps not in Egypt.

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Connections

Referenced in The Best Years: All That Heaven Allows (2007)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No.1 inC minor, Op.68: 4th movement (the Alpenhorn melody)
(uncredited)
Music by Johannes Brahms

User Reviews

Jane Wyman And Rock Hudson In Romance With A Message

Call it a melodrama. At times, the music swells to remind us that so much is on the line. Call it a soap opera. The script hardly misses a chance to string along the emotions of the viewer. But "All That Heaven Allows" is more than that, if only for its message--a simple one, but one that is extremely important: to thine own self be true.

This story of romance would be worthwhile watching only for this lesson, but it offers more. The sets are beautiful. The direction is solid. Jane Wyman, who stars as Cary Scott, is convincing as the confused woman who loves a younger man but lacks the strength to follow her feelings. Rock Hudson plays the object of her affections--a man of principles who won't compromise his values. Gloria Talbott, who plays Cary's daughter, has a screen presence that, perhaps, could have been utilized more. Likewise, Agnes Moorehead as Cary's friend, Sara Warren.

This is not a great film, but it represents its era very well, in terms of quality and theme.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

All That Heaven Allows

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$170

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor and Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1