Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27967 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-09-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Black & White, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 76 minutes

Customer Reviews

MARGARET SULLAVAN STEALS THE SHOW FROM JOAN CRAWFORD...
This is another compelling melodrama in which Joan Crawford stars as popular nightclub dancer. Tired of the tawdry world of the demi-monde, she agrees to marry a rich man (Melvyn Douglas) from Wisconsin and live a quiet and simple life on his Wisconsin farm. Unfortunately for her, his jealous and domineering sister (Fay Bainter) lives there, as does their brother (Robert Young) and his wife (Margaret Sullavan).

The brother, who had initially disapproved of the match, finds himself falling for Joan, while his wife looks helplessly on. The sister is viscious towards Joan, and Joan and her husband build their own home in hopes of riding out his sister's hatred of Joan. Alas, this is not to be, as the sister's hatred takes a dramatic turn, which brings all the parties to a crossroad in each of their lives.

Margaret Sullavan gives an achingly poignant performance as the wife who loves a husband who does not return that love. The nuances of her performance steal the show away from Joan Crawford, who also gives a strong performance but does not reach the heights that Margaret Sullavan does with hers. Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young are excellent as the brothers, who are in love with the same woman. Fay Bainter is terrific as the hateful and jealous sister, whose hatred would culminate in tragedy.

Though some of the film is somewhat preposterous, it is entertaining, nonetheless. Fans of Joan Crawford and Margaret Sullavan will enjoy it, as will all those who love classic films.

Crawford is stuck in a love triangle again...
When the very lovely, talented dancer portrayed by Joan Crawford marries a wealthy farmer and moves to the family home where the entire family lives (ala Dallas) the fireworks begin when the husband's sister is consumed with jealousy and the younger brother falls in love with the vibrant Joan Crawford (I understand perfectly). The fireworks at the end make it well worth the watch. Joan does an marvelous job and looks great, too.

�And in 1938 Crawford was voted box-office poison!!
Every time I watch a Crawford film from the 1930s that I hadn't watched before, the oft-quoted opinion of film critics of that era about Joan's lack of acting ability/talent, surprises me even more...because each time, again and again, her acting & technique seems (to me) so fresh and contemporary, so much more natural than the acting style of most of the other ladies from the `30s.

In this entertaining film she acts and holds her own opposite a different type of talent, lovely actress Margaret Sullavan, who, as always, excels as Crawford's sister-in-law. I repeat, Crawford's playing, as a dancer married into an aristocratic rural family, looks very natural and sincere.

Kudos too, for wonderful character actress Fay Bainter, as the unpleasant spinsterish sister of Robert Young and Melvyn Douglas, who was the first screen actor to be nominated for an Academy Award in one year, in both categories: best actress for "White Banners" and best supporting actress for "Jezebel" (she won this one), and like "The Shining Hour" (MGM), both films were released in 1938 (by Warner Bros.), so it was definitely a good year for Ms. Bainter.

Robert Young and Melvyn Douglas are second fiddle to this trio of excellent actresses, but nonetheless very effective as the Linden brothers, married respectively to Sullavan and Crawford, torn between love and family. Hattie Mc Daniel (future "GWTW" Mammy) is very funny as usual, as Crawford's maid.