The Shining Hour

The Shining Hour

By Frank Borzage

  • Genre: Drama
  • Release Date: 1939-05-29
  • Advisory Rating: NR
  • Runtime: 1h 16min
  • Director: Frank Borzage
  • Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • iTunes Price: USD 9.99
  • iTunes Rent Price: USD 3.99
6.6/10
6.6
From 20 Ratings
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Description

When Joan Crawford saw The Shining Hour on stage, she pleaded with the studio to let her spread her acting wings in the film version. She got her wish, playing a New York siren who marries a prosperous farmer (Melvyn Douglas) and moves to Wisconsin. There she is drawn to his handsome brother (Robert Young), even as she befriends the brother's selfless wife (Margaret Sullavan, Crawford's choice for the role). The passionate triangle plays out in the best tradition of classic screen melodrama: glossy and chic, but resonant with honest emotion. And the movie's heart-stopping climax with Crawford battling flames to rescue Sullavan from certain death in a house fire is, both literally and figuratively, incendiary filmmaking.

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Reviews

  • Worth watching

    3
    By JimboSF
    The script is fascinating as a theatre piece but the deeper psychology of it is not successfully translated to the screen (it comes off as clunky more than anything). But Joan Crawford is gorgeous to watch and her scenes with Margaret Sullavan are especially fabulous. Fay Bainter's hysteric portrayal is entertaining, if not convincingly motivated. Robert Young and Melvyn Douglas are dull and predictable. Hattie McDaniel is, of course, the maid — and does what she can under the circumstances.

  • Well made melodrama

    3
    By Mr. Wickline
    This is a well paced melodrama for fans of old studio movies. The story is well written and still has relevance today to those interested in the complexities of human emotions, especially jealousy. The production values are top draw. The houses are beautiful, the clothes are beautiful. It's why MGM was known as the dream factory. You want to live in this world. The performances are also very good. All of the actors appear to be quite natural in their delivery of the lines. An added bonus, Hattie MacDaniel has a supporting role though she is not credited in the iTunes cast.

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Movies by Frank Borzage

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