A retired auto manufacturer and his wife take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life.A retired auto manufacturer and his wife take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life.A retired auto manufacturer and his wife take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 9 nominations total
Maria Ouspenskaya
- Baroness Von Obersdorf
- (as Mme. Maria Ouspenskaya)
John Payne
- Harry
- (as John Howard Payne)
Bobby Barber
- Italian Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
John Barclay
- Ship Passenger
- (uncredited)
Wilson Benge
- Steward on Queen Mary
- (uncredited)
Ted Billings
- Man on Railroad Platform
- (uncredited)
Eugene Borden
- Baggage Carrier at Train Station
- (uncredited)
Horace B. Carpenter
- Motor Company Employee
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWilliam Wyler spent a whole afternoon shooting the sequence where Fran (Ruth Chatterton) burns a letter from her husband; he wanted the letter to specifically blow gently along the terrace, stop for a moment, and then continue to flutter as the scene faded to black as a metaphor for Fran and Sam's failing marriage.
- GoofsTubby's glass is fuller when he puts it down when he and Matey leave than when he almost takes a drink.
- Quotes
Sam Dodsworth: You'll have to stop getting younger someday.
- Alternate versionsThe 1946 re-release, shown on the Turner Classic Movies channel, lists the end credits with a different order: Kathryn Marlowe is listed after Harlan Briggs, and John Payne is listed last, after Marlowe.
- SoundtracksAuld Lang Syne
(1788) (uncredited)
Traditional Scottish 17th century music
Arranged by Alfred Newman
Played during the opening scene
Featured review
Sinclair Lewis story about how time affects a long-term marriage comes to the screen with still-relevant talk weighing the issues behind a union which doesn't have the same spark as before. Retired, wealthy American businessman and his wife finally take that trip to Europe they've been dreaming about--but, on the ship going over to England, the wife finds that men still find her desirable in a way that her older husband perhaps takes for granted. Worse, their daughter has just made them grandparents for the first time, something the Mrs. doesn't want to share with anyone for fear of being out of her league with the flirtatious men in her path. William Wyler directs with a knowing eye and ear, and leads Walter Huston (Oscar-nominated) and Ruth Chatterton click immediately with these (not always likable) characters. Huston racks his spirit trying to come up with ways of entertaining--and keeping a hold on--his selfish spouse, unable to reconcile the fact that maybe she's just a fixture in his life, no longer a great love. Excellent support from Mary Astor, an extremely young David Niven (as a shipboard gigolo), and Maria Ouspenskaya (also Oscar-nominated) adds to the immense pleasure of watching this classic drama. A knockout. ***1/2 from ****
- moonspinner55
- Oct 20, 2009
- Permalink
- How long is Dodsworth?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content