movie world

For over twenty years Douglas Sirk made great films that combined the cinematic elements of high art with the schmaltzy elements of soap operas. His color films have an ironic glossy facade that comment on the emptiness and vanity of the Eisenhower era upper classes. All That Heaven Allows, made in 1955, is one of the simplest but most accomplished films made in Hollywood in the 1950's.

Wyman playing Cary Scott, a well-to-do widow with two college-age children and a dull social life at the country club. The emptiness at the heart of her existence is filled when she meets Ron Kirby, the young gardener–turned–tree farmer who prunes the trees that line her all-American suburban yard — and then comes back to court her. This simple love story is disrupted by the vicious snobbery of her children and high-society acquaintances.

BD50 + 2xDVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:28:53 | 46.2 Gb + 13.8 Gb
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Douglas Sirk
Cast: Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead
Country: USA

Extras:

• Commentary - film scholars John Mercer (Melodrama: Genre, Style, Sensibility) and Tamar Jeffers-McDonald discuss the romantic relationship between Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson's characters, the unique use of color throughout the film, Douglas Sirk's careful framing, the social overtones in the film, the key conflicts in the film, the different reviews the film received, etc. The audio commentary was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2014.

• Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992) - a fascinating documentary focusing on Rock Hudson's sexuality and celebrity status narrated by filmmaker Mark Rappaport (Mozart in Love, From the Journals of Jean Seberg). The documentary features a large collection of clips from films with Rock Hudson and some archival stills. In English, not subtitled. (64 min, 1080i).

• Behind the Mirror: A Profile of Douglas Sirk - presented here are interview excerpts from the 1979 BBC documentary Behind the Mirror: A Profile of Douglas Sirk. The legendary director discusses the socio-political climate in Germany after Hitler's rise to power, his work in Holland and consequently in Hollywood, his collaboration with Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson on Magnificent Obsessions and All That Heaven Allows, the visual style of the latter, etc. In English, not subtitled. (58 min, 1080i).

• Contract Kid: William Reynolds on Douglas Sirk - in this featurette, actor William Reynolds, who played Cary Scott's son in All That Heaven Allows, discusses his acting career and the various films he made with Douglas Sirk. William Reynolds started his career at Paramount, where he was discovered by the great director William Wyler (Ben-Hur, Roman Holiday). The featurette was produced by Robert Fischer for Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (24 min, 1080i).

• Cinema cinemas - presented here is an archival interview with director Douglas Sirk, directed by Pascal Thomas, which originally aired on the April 14, 1982, episode of the French television program Cinema cinemas. The director discusses the importance of light and shadow in his films, the camera movement and the manner in which faces are captured in his films, the crucial role music has in his films, his cutting/editing preferences, etc. A good portion of the footage was shot in Lugano, Switzerland. In English, with printed French subtitles. (16 min, 1080i).

• Trailer - original trailer for All That Heaven Allows. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).