Susan and God (1940)

61% of users liked it
(234 ratings)

Rachel Crothers' thoughtful stage play Susan and God was tastefully adapted for the screen by Anita Loos. Joan Crawford stars as Susan, whose unquestioning devotion to various religious organizations causes a great deal of strain between herself and her family. When Susan embraces a "New Thought"… More Rachel Crothers' thoughtful stage play Susan and God was tastefully adapted for the screen by Anita Loos. Joan Crawford stars as Susan, whose unquestioning devotion to various religious organizations causes a great deal of strain between herself and her family. When Susan embraces a "New Thought" theological movement, she decides to apply the tenets of this new philosophy to patch up the unhappy marriages within her own social circles. She succeeds only in making things worse, and in further harming her own relationship with husband Barrie (Fredric March) and daughter Blossom (Rita Quigley). But it is the unadorned, unpretentious religious faith of little Blossom that ultimately brings Susan and Barrie together again. When Susan and God was first released in 1940, Joan Crawford's performance was occasionally compared unfavorably to that of Gertrude Lawrence, who created the role of Susan on Broadway; it was suggested by some that Crawford patterned her portrayal exactly on Lawrence's, right down to the line delivery. Modern audiences, denied the opportunity to see Lawrence's interpretation, are less inclined to downgrade Crawford's work, which rates among her best. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: George Cukor
Written By: Anita Loos
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 7, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Jun 24, 1992
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of George Cukor's worst films due to lack of sympathetic charcater, made worse by Joan Crawford's lackluster performance; MGM queen Norma Shearer turned down the role because she didn't want to play a mature woman with children!

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Cast

            Joan Crawford as Susan Trexel

            Fredric March as Barry Trexel

            Ruth Hussey as Charlotte

            John Carroll as Clyde Rochester

            Rita Hayworth as Leonora Stubbs

            Nigel Bruce as "Hutchie"

            Bruce Cabot as Michael O'Hara

            Rose Hobart as Irene Burrows

            Constance Collier as Lady Wiggstaff

            Rita Quigley as Blossom Trexel

            Gloria de Haven as Enid

            Richard Crane as Bob

            Norma Mitchell as Paige

            Marjorie Main as Mary

            Aldrich Bowker as Patrick

            Rama Bai as Native Woman

            Romaine Callender as Oliver Leeds

            Don Castle as Attendant

            Dan Dailey as Homer

            Herbert Evans as Bronson

            Edward Gargan as Cab Driver

            Sam Harris as Amos

            Claude King as J.F.

            Harold Landon as Christopher

            Joan Leslie as Bit Part

            Oscar O'Shea as Sam the Bartender

            Louis Payne as Dave

            Susan Peters
            
            Phil Tead as Customer

            Jane Drummond as Rose

            Bobby Hale as Tom

            Keith Hitchcock as Scotchman

            William Lechner
            
            David Tillotson as Guest

            David Oliver as Man at Bar
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