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:

Peg Fenwick (screenplay), 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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 1956 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Tout ce que le ciel permet

Filming Locations:

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

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ron Kirby (Rock Hudson) is driving a 1946 Ford "Woody" station wagon. Sara Warren (Agnes Moorhead) is driving a ("low end") 1955 Ford Customline station wagon. Back-up lights were still sn option in 1955, and her car doesn't have them.

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Goofs

Cary's son, Ned, mixes martinis for his mother and her date, Harvey. Cary tells Harvey, "NEED mixed them especially for you" (not "Ned").

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Quotes

Dr. Hennessy: There's nothing organically wrong with you, Cary.
Cary Scott: Well, then, why do have these headaches?

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Sex & Melodrama (2011)

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Soundtracks

Consolation No.3 in D flat major
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Liszt

User Reviews

Reflections and refractions

Wonderful example of Sirk's famous use of reflections and transparencies. Watch for this accomplished, smooth stylist's wonderful gliding camera's use of windows, mirrors, etc., including the famous reflection of Jane Wyman's lonely, alienated face in the television set that her short-sighted children have given her for Christmas, as her only proper companion (and imprisoner), contrasted with the large picture window at Rock Hudson's cabin, bringing in the liberating light of a re-union with nature (and true love), an escape from and transcendence of the stifling conformity and conventionality of her upper-middle class suburb set.

All this in a sentimental glossy Ross Hunter production makes for beautiful irony.