Dodsworth (1936)

 William Wyler's "Dodsworth"

William Wyler had been making films for Universal studios as early as 1925. By 1935 when he finished his contract with them, had already made 40 motion pictures. However, he didn't quite make his first real breakthrough until 1936 with his adaptation of the 1929 Sinclair Lewis novel "Dodsworth." 

Also a 1934 stage play, "Dodsworth" recounts a marriage in peril between a retired president of a motor company and his spoiled, narcissistic wife. While vacationing in Europe, their hopes of finally getting to spend time together sours, after Mrs. Dodsworth finds a lover. As they drift further and further apart, Mr. Dodsworth finally grants her request for a divorce. However, when he finally finds happiness once again, he must reject her insistence they reunite.

Although the plot of the film seems like a mundane melodrama, it actually has great intrigue. Walter Huston, who plays Mr. Dodsworth, stands out to me as the premier performance of the film. This is probably because he played the same character in the stage production two years prior. The compromises of a relationship, the bitter truths, and the fight for emotional survival all create a great drama that unfolds. 

The film went on to be highly praised by critics at the time, who all commended the elevation of the stage play into something more alive and cinematic. The film also received 7 Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Art Direction. "Dodsworth" remains of classic of 1930s Hollywood cinema and marks an interesting turning point for the career of William Wyler.