El realizador Douglas Sirk ha pasado a la historia como gran artífice de melodramas románticos en Hollywood. El más famoso de ellos, con toda seguridad, es All That Heaven Allows (E.U., 1955), un relato que por debajo de su colorida fotografía en Technicolor, gran manufactura visual y clásica banda sonora, llevaba un fuerte subtexto sobre los prejuicios y la discriminación sociales.
La historia era muy sencilla en su forma: una viuda de clase acomodada, Cary (la recientemente fallecida Jane Wyman), con dos hijos jóvenes, encuentra la posibilidad de rehacer su vida al enamorarse de un humilde pero apuesto jardinero, Ron (Rock Hudson). Sin embargo, Cary tiene otro pretendiente de su mismo círculo social, y los problemas vendrán cuando sus amigos sepan sobre la relación que lleva con Ron. Para colmo, los chantajes sentimentales de sus hijos no se dejarán esperar.
A pesar de la sencillez del relato, la narración de Sirk imprimía emoción y suspenso a la historia, en esa notable secuencia del accidente final, montada de manera eficaz y que basaba su intriga en la manera de distanciar a los personajes. Por supuesto, la voz de la razón venía del personaje del médico, quien en una escena clave hacia ver a Cary que no importaba lo que dijeran los demás, o lo conflictivo de su entorno familiar-social, la respuesta para su felicidad la tenía ella misma. Más en http://pantallanueve.blogspot.com
A delightful classic romantic movie. It feels like a very stereotypical romance movie of forbidden love where everything is against it, but it has a freshness about it, it brings out a smile to you and it feels genuine. I was very into this movie, the shots were well done and extremely unique too and brought out a whole new dimension and the action was fantastic too, the dialogue doesn't beat about, it allows us to feel more from action than anything else.
A beautiful movie - of the usual calibre you would expect from Sirk. Rock Hudson's one of my favourites anyway (who wouldn't fall for their gardener if he looked like that?) and he turns in a great performance. Wyman doesn't have the same screen presence as some of the great queens of melodrama - Stanwyck, Davis etc. - but her understated style suits this role. However, it's not the cast that makes this movie - but the direction, lighting, colour and cinematography - all delivered with that distinctly Sirk mark of excellence.
As much as I want to give this a 5, I'll hold off until I've seen more Sirk. Needless to say, I was primarily impressed with the visual sensibility, where precise compositions reveal or create a counterpoint to the character's intentions. The use of color, space, production design is equally impressive. On the surface it seems like a typical Hollywood melodrama, well-made, if a little sudsy. But not far below that surface, we see a woman trapped into conformity, her hidden desire to be free, and the freedom that Hudson's character represent. It's true that it can be a bit dated, but the themes can speak more broadly to issues we still face today. You can look no further than to the references to Thoreau to understand that this is more universal than it appears. Sirk knew what he was doing, that much is clear.
This was a very good film. The action was a bit slow but I stayed interested none the less. This was my first time watching a Rock Hudson movie and I gotta say, he wasn't a handsome guy!
I've been getting into Douglas Sirk's films. His movies are dated in best possible way.
If I understand correctly, Sirk's melodramas were gentle criticisms of conservative culture in the 50's and early 60's, but the world and the society he depicts in his films now seem so alien to us that his films are almost absurdist and surreal.
Todd Haynes knows what I'm talking about. His "Far From Heaven" was based on "All That Heaven Allows".
Yes it's basically a chick flick and yes all it really delivers is a message that you shouldn't give a baker's fuck what other people think, especially if you're in love. But it's very beautiful and it's got a happy ending. And you really need that sometimes...
It was kind of interesting to see Rock Hudson for the first time. It was a shame that he died of AIDS. I think that it is kind of weird that this film is a romance yet Rock Hudson was a homosexual in real life. One thing that impressed me was how it really made a point that it shouldn't matter how old you are to love someone. The age difference between Hudson and Wyman's characters were quite a few years apart yet they still stood together despite the town's reaction. All That Heaven Allows is a terrific film, and it just may be one of the best I've seen.
MCT:May 6, 2008
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MCT:February 15, 2008
MCT:May 28, 2007
