All That Heaven Allows - Rock Hudson, Jane Wyman [Criterion Collection] ( Blu-ray ) 02/12/19

One of director Douglas Sirk's best and most successful romantic soapers of the 1950s, All That Heaven Allows is predicated on a May-December romance. The difference here is that the woman, attractive widow Cary Scott (Jane Wyman), is considerably older than the man, handsome gardener-landscaper Ron Kirby (Rock Hudson). Sirk builds up sympathy for Cary by showing how empty her life has been since her husband's death, even suggesting that the marriage itself was no picnic. Throwing conventionial behavior to the winds and facing social ostracism, Cary pursues her romance with Ron, who is unjustly perceived as a fortune-hunter by Cary's friends and family--especially her priggish son Ned (William Reynolds). Amusingly, Conrad Nagel was to have had a much larger part as Harvey, an elderly widower who carries a torch for Cary, but his role was trimmed down during previews when audiences disapproved of an implicit romance between a sixtyish man and a fortysomething woman! All That Heaven Allows was remade by unabashed Douglas Sirk admirer Rainer Werner Fassbinder as Ali--Fear Eats the Soul (1974), in which the age gap between hero and heroine was even wider.

CONDITION: NEW

Actors: Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson
Directors: Douglas Sirk
Format: Widescreen
Number of discs: 1
Rated:
NR
Not Rated
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: February 12, 2019
Run Time: 89 minutes

Cast & Crew

Jane Wyman Cary Scott
Rock Hudson Ron Kirby
Agnes Moorehead Sara Warren
Conrad Nagel Harvey
Virginia Grey Alida Anderson
Gloria Talbott Kay Scott
William Reynolds Ned Scott
Jacqueline De Wit Mona Plash
Charles Drake Mick Anderson
Leigh Snowden Jo-Ann
Merry Anders Mary Ann
Donald Curtis Howard Hoffer
Alex Gerry George Warren
Hayden Rorke Dr. Hennessy
Nestor Paiva Manuel
Forrest Lewis Mr. Weeks
Tol Avery Tom Allenby
Lillian Culver Bit part
Jim Hayward John
David Janssen Freddie Norton
Paul Keast Mark Plash
Joseph Mell Mr. Gow
Vernon Rich Bill
Gia Scala Manuel's Daughter

Technical Credits

Douglas Sirk Director
Alexander Golitzen Art Director
Fred Baratta Editor
Leslie I. Carey Sound/Sound Designer
Peggy Fenwick Screenwriter
Russell A. Gausman Set Decoration/Design
Joseph E. Gershenson Score Composer,Musical Direction/Supervision
Frank Gross Editor
Julia Heron Set Decoration/Design
Ross Hunter Producer
Joseph E. Kenny Asst. Director
Joe Lapis Sound/Sound Designer
Russell Metty Cinematographer
Eric Orbom Art Director
Frank Skinner Score Composer
Bill Thomas Costumes/Costume Designer
Bud Westmore Makeup