Dodsworth (Full Frame)

VHS, 101 minutes, MGM

Sam Dodwoth (Walter Huston) is a small-town, rags-to-riches millionaire, who finds that his money cannot bring him happiness. His unsatisfied wife Fran (Ruth Chatterton), seeking glamour and sophistication, persuades him to take her on a grand tour of Europe, where she promptly deserts him for a romantic but penniless baron. Brokenhearted, Sam meets Edith (Mary Astor), an understanding young widow who arouses in him he never thought he'd had, and setting ho on collision course with his wife that unleashes a torrent of desire, betrayal and shocking revelations. Based on the best-selling novel by Sinclair Lewis, this scintillating drama garnered seven Academy Award nominations and is" one of the authentic masterpieces of the 1930's" ( Filmex Guide). Sinclair Lewis' novel, "Dodworth" was published in 1929, two years after "Elmer Gantry" and one year before he became the first American author to win the Nobel prize. "Dodsworth" was also a hit Broadway play, with Walter Huston originating the title role. Although much of the movie is set it Europe, the cast shot the entire film in a Hollywood studio, with the background shots of Europe inserted into the film through rear projection.