Dodsworth

(1936) United Artists.

Produced by Samuel Goldwyn. Directed by William Wyler. Based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis. Screenplay by Sidney Howard. Associate Producer: Merritt Hulburd. Art Direction by Richard Day. Music by Alfred Newman. Costumes by Omar Khayyam. Photography by Rudolph Mate. Edited by Daniel Mandell. Assistant Director: Eddie Bernoudy. Sound by Oscar Lagerstrom. Special Effects by Ray Binger. 101 min.
Cast: Walter Huston (Sam Dodsworth), Ruth Chatterton (Fran Dodsworth), Paul Lucas (Arnold Iselin), Mary Astor (Edith Cortright), David Niven (Lockert), Gregory Gaye (Kurt von Obersdorf), Maria Ouspenskaya (Baroness von Obersdorf), Odette Myrtil (Madame de Penable), Kathryn Marlowe (Emily), John Howard Payne (Harry), Spring Byington (Matey Pearson), Harlan Briggs (Tubby Pearson), Wilson Benge (Steward), Bobby Barber (Chauffeur), Inez Palange (Italian Housekeeper).

If there ever was a motion picture that was deserving of an Academy Award as best picture and didn't get it, then DODSWORTH would be a prime example. Based on the 1929 novel by Sinclair Lewis and adapted from Sidney Howard's stage play, this story dealing with the marital problems of a middle-aged couple certainly didn't seem like a likely box-office prospect in 1936. It took producer Samuel Goldwyn's uncanny foresight to bring Lewis' work to the screen despite unanimous refusals from the other major studios. As director for the film Goldwyn chose William Wyler, a perfectionist who labored greatly, bringing forth a photoplay dealing with infidelity resulting in adult romance at a time when the Hays Office was at it's most imposing. It's easy to see why the producer had such high regard for Wyler considering the later top-notch vehicles he was awarded. Following his two greatest triumphs at Universal for `Counselor at Law' (1933) and `The Good Fairy' (1935), Goldwyn signed him exclusively to his studio. What followed was a countless number of cinematic gems such as `These Three' (1936), `Dead End' (1937), `Wuthering Heights' (1939), `The Westerner' (1940), `The Little Foxes' (1941), and `The Best Years of Our Lives' (1946).
For the primary roles in DODSWORTH, Goldwyn chose Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton and Mary Astor, whose careers were all slipping considerably at the box-office. Aside from Huston's role in his son's `Treasure of the Sierra Madre' (1948), the three leads all turn in probably the best performances of their careers! Others in the cast deserve similar recognition including Maria Ouspenskaya (in her first film), Paul Lucas and David Niven. With all the extraordinary talent evident in DODSWORTH it only received one Academy Award for Richard Day's unmatched art direction. Walter Huston was nominated for best actor in his role as Sam Dodsworth but lost to Paul Muni's performance in `The Story of Louis Pasteur'.

Other nominations went to Maria Ouspenskaya for best supporting actress, William Wyler for best director, Sidney Howard (who later adapted `Gone With the Wind' to the screen) for best screenplay, Oscar Lagerstrom for best sound recording, and best picture, which went to MGM's `The Great Ziegfeld' with William Powell and Louise Rainer. Although they too also deserved similar accolades, Ruth Chatterton (in her last Hollywood film. . .alas!) and Mary Astor weren't even recognized by the academy; however, Miss Astor won that year's New York Critics Award.
When DODSWORTH was released on September 24, 1936, it generated excellent reviews and continues to do the same when revived in movie theatres and on television. Although little known today, it is probably one of the greatest motion pictures of the 1930's!

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