Grand soap opera still carries its tear-jerking ability after 44 years. Lana Tuner -the Sharon Stone of her day- and Sandra Dee -the Reese Witherspoon of her day- are perfectly matched as mother and daughter and have their moments but the real glory comes when Juanita Moore and Sandra Kohner -who in some scenes resembles a fleshier Mary Louise-Parker- hit the screen. Their mother-daughter relationship is what everyone talks about and thinks of when you mention the film's title and it's a loving testament to both these actors that the '50's film is still part of today's pop culture.
Sure the story is silly and campy: a down-on-her-luck, 30-something stage actress (Turner) suddenly hits it big and is romanced by two different men (John Gavin and Dan O'Herlihy) while her black maid struggles with her own daughter's inability to cope with having been born mulatto. But as the oh-here-we-go ending approaches and that powerhouse Mahalia Jackson lets loose with Troubles of the World and the rebellious daughter makes her last minute appearance, I dare anyone to stay dry! This weepy classic was directed with unbelievable skill by Douglas Sirk and remains one of the best films to come out of that era.
While Turner and Gavin may make a poor man's version of Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson, the film has a first rate director and the Moore-Kohner acting partnership making it an essential viewing experience.
Sure the story is silly and campy: a down-on-her-luck, 30-something stage actress (Turner) suddenly hits it big and is romanced by two different men (John Gavin and Dan O'Herlihy) while her black maid struggles with her own daughter's inability to cope with having been born mulatto. But as the oh-here-we-go ending approaches and that powerhouse Mahalia Jackson lets loose with Troubles of the World and the rebellious daughter makes her last minute appearance, I dare anyone to stay dry! This weepy classic was directed with unbelievable skill by Douglas Sirk and remains one of the best films to come out of that era.
While Turner and Gavin may make a poor man's version of Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson, the film has a first rate director and the Moore-Kohner acting partnership making it an essential viewing experience.