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How sad is this?

Good movie but grossly overrated

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A retired auto manufacturer (Walter Huston) and his wife (Ruth Chatterton) take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life.This William Wyler classic has an interesting fate in hindsight: the two leads are now relatively unknown, while the supporting cast (such as Mary Astor) are more well-remembered. Actually, the film as a whole has been forgotten by many. Another reviewer pointed out that critics and historians love it, but the average viewer has never heard of "Dodsworth".The movie received many Oscar nominations, but only one win: Richard Day for Best Art Direction (not one of the celebrated awards). I may be mistaken, but I feel like the film should be praised for its subject matter. Divorce and international affairs in the 1930s? Seems like the sort of topic the censors would really frown on.

"Dodsworth" is an adaptation of a novel by Sinclair Lewis. I have not read the novel, but every film should stand on its own anyway.The film follows the marriage of a couple who decide to retire and travel abroad. The husband, Sam Dodsworth (Walter Huston), is dedicated to his wife and her wishes. His primary character trait is duty. The wife, Fran Dodsworth (Ruth Chatterton), wishes to get away from her routine life. Her primary character trait is vanity.While on their excursion, they quickly drift apart. To quell her fear of aging, Fran seeks the attentions of other men. Sam--a man of action and industry--finds himself lost in the inaction of leisure.The acting in this film is wonderful. The photography is beautiful. All of the production values--from sets to music--are first class.In my opinion, the story challenges the conception that marriage is about self-sacrifice. It shows the damage that is wrought when one person dedicates his existence to the happiness of another with no regard for his own. It's an important message that gives "Dodsworth" consequence.

Does the story really end with the last scene of this movie? It almost ends with a riddle. For it is merely Mr. Dodsworth's turn to stay abroad with a lover, something his unfaithful wife had already done. For some reason, we expect the Dodsworths to find their way back together and stay together. Viewers will think Mary Astor's character is the more sympathetic woman and that Walter Huston's Mr. Dodsworth has at last found true happiness, but what has happened is that the narrative has switched so that we are watching infidelity from the reverse angle. When you think about it, the filmmakers are presenting a rather tortured love story that is complicated by the new choices that are being presented abroad.

This is a towering film even for 1936. It's very painful to watch this marriage crumble. Especially when one person loves the other and the other is just...indifferent.They just don't make enough films like this. Films about real life. This is one about a husband who loves a younger wife and after he retires she wants to spend time away in Europe to..."find herself". She's just selfish, vain and ungrateful til the end. I mean what mother wouldn't want to see the birth of her first grandchild? These 2 performances by Ruth Chatterton and Walter Huston are just stunning. Totally believable in every way. It was good to see the Walter Huston character find some semblance of happiness in the end. Totally made my day.