Dodsworth

"Here is a picture that was marked for greatness before it was ever screened!"

1936 1h 41m EN

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 151

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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

“Here is a picture that was marked for greatness before it was ever screened!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: William Wyler
Writers: Sidney Howard
Languages: German, French, Italian, English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

90 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: German, French, Italian, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by William Wyler, shot by Rudolph Maté. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Daniel Mandell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton and Paul Lukas carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Here is a picture that was marked for greatness before it was ever screened!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0027532 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

William Wyler directs. Rudolph Maté behind the camera. Alfred Newman scores. Daniel Mandell cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in German, French, Italian, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: German, French, Italian, English.
3Directed by William Wyler, shot by Rudolph Maté. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Daniel Mandell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton and Paul Lukas carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Here is a picture that was marked for greatness before it was ever screened!".
8IMDB entry: tt0027532 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 21 themes, including "husband wife relationship", "soulmates", "snob", "retirement".

The technical file

Cinematography: Rudolph Maté
Original score: Alfred Newman
Editing: Daniel Mandell
Costume design: Omar Kiam
Runtime: 101 min · 1h 41m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Dodsworth (1936)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Production Design

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

William Wyler

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-06-19
★ 7/10
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.

Production companies