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Dodsworth

Dodsworth

  • Status: Released
  • 23-09-1936
  • Runtime: 101 min
  • Score: 7.1
  • Vote count: 129

A retired auto manufacturer and his wife take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life.

Walter Huston

Sam Dodsworth

Ruth Chatterton

Fran Dodsworth

Paul Lukas

Arnold Iselin

Mary Astor

Edith Cortright

David Niven

Captain Clyde Lockert

Gregory Gaye

Baron Kurt Von Obersdorf

Maria Ouspenskaya

Baroness Von Obersdorf

Odette Myrtil

Renée de Penable

Spring Byington

Matey Pearson

Harlan Briggs

Tubby Pearson

Kathryn Marlowe

Emily Dodsworth McKee

John Payne

Harry McKee

Bobby Barber

Italian Taxi Driver (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)

Gino Corrado

American Express Clerk (Uncredited)

Jean De Briac

Official (Uncredited)

Helen Dickson

Tourist (Uncredited)

Jack George

Orchestra Leader in Vienna (Uncredited)

Fred Malatesta

Waiter (Uncredited)

Beatrice Maude

Mary (Uncredited)

Louis Mercier

French Railroad Conductor (Uncredited)

Inez Palange

Teresa (Uncredited)

John Picorri

Clerk (Uncredited)

Pat Somerset

Englishman (Uncredited)

William Wyler

Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (Uncredited)

Sam Harris

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

John Barclay

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Steve Carruthers

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Bess Flowers

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

J.C. Fowler

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Herschel Graham

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Loretta Russell

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Alphonse Martell

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Edmund Mortimer

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Harold Miller

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

George Nardelli

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

Dale Van Sickel

Ship Passenger (Uncredited)

CinemaSerf

The title of this doesn't help it much: it sounds like it ought to be about a butler in a grand old English stately home but Walter Huston ("Sam") is superb, as the millionaire motor car industrialist who sells his company and sets off with wife "Fran" (Ruth Chatteron) to "do" Europe. Even on the boat, where she meets the rather suave, dapper David Niven ("Capt. Lockert") it starts to become clear that their marriage, though on the face of it loving, is not strong. When they get to Paris and she meets Paul Lukas ("Iselin") that becomes even more evident and soon "Sam" is doing all he can to keep the wife he loves from divorcing him. This is quite a slow burn of a story; but it isn't dull. The rapport between the two stars is tenderly and honestly performed; she the slightly younger woman looking for what ever life (and wealth) can offer; him the more settled man who wants to get back to family, home and hearth. There are a few gentle twists to the story and the ending, I found to be somewhat vindicating. This has made the transition from stage to screen well; William Wyler has managed to lose much the rigidity theatrical cross-overs can present on the big screen, and there is a nice cameo from Maria Ouspenskaya towards the end that really does put a fly in the ointment.