Summary
American Susan travels with her father to England for a vacation. Invited to a society ball, Susan meets Sir John Ashwood and marries him after a whirlwind romance. However, she never quite adjusts to life as a new member of the British gentry. At the outbreak of World War I, John is sent to the trenches and never returns. When her son goes off to fight in World War II, Susan fears the same tragic fate may befall him too.
Cast
Irene Dunne
Susan Dunn
Alan Marshal
John Ashwood
Roddy McDowall
John Ashwood II as a Boy
Frank Morgan
Hiram Porter Dunn
Van Johnson
Sam Bennett
C. Aubrey Smith
Walter Forsythe
May Whitty
Nanny
Gladys Cooper
Jean Ashwood
Peter Lawford
John Ashwood II as a Young Man
John Warburton
Reggie Ashwood
Jill Esmond
Rosamund
Brenda Forbes
Gwennie
Norma Varden
Mrs. Bland
Harry Allen
English Cabbie (uncredited)
Wilson Benge
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Matthew Boulton
Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Edmund Breon
Rupert Bancroft (uncredited)
Clifford Brooke
Indian Major in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Eldon Burkett
Twin in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Elton Burkett
Twin in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Bobby Callahan
Messenger Boy (uncredited)
Charles Coleman
Captain Davis (uncredited)
Clyde Cook
Jennings (uncredited)
Alec Craig
Billings (uncredited)
Ann Curzon
Miss Lambert (uncredited)
Adrienne D'Ambricourt
Madam at Dieppe Hotel (uncredited)
Guy D'Ennery
Curate in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
George Davis
Boots (uncredited)
Kay Deslys
Blonde Woman (uncredited)
Vernon Downing
Lieutenant Davis Herrick (uncredited)
Tom Drake
Dying American Soldier (uncredited)
Isobel Elsom
Mrs. Bancroft (uncredited)
Herbert Evans
Footman (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Ball Guest (uncredited)
Emily Fitzroy
Spinster in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Bunny Gordon
John Ashford II at 6 Months Old (uncredited)
Vera Graaff
Duchess of Waverly (uncredited)
Douglas Grant
Corporal (uncredited)
Gary Gray
Boy at Dinner Table (uncredited)
Arthur Gould-Porter
Captain Portage (uncredited)
Ethel Griffies
Woman on Train Opening Window (uncredited)
Gerald Hamer
Private (uncredited)
Lumsden Hare
The Vicar (uncredited)
Joy Harington
Nurse Margaret (uncredited)
Keith Hitchcock
Duke of Waverly (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes
Ball Guest (uncredited)
Charles Irwin
Farmer Ben Kenney (uncredited)
George Kirby
Old Man (uncredited)
Molly Lamont
Helen Hampton (uncredited)
Nelson Leigh
British Naval Officer (uncredited)
Adolf E. Licho
Frenchman at Dieppe Train Station (uncredited)
Doris Lloyd
Plump Lady at Boardinghouse (uncredited)
June Lockhart
Betsy Kenney at Age 18 (uncredited)
Miles Mander
Major Loring (uncredited)
Emily Massey
Elegant Lady in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Lal Chand Mehra
Indian Student in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
James Menzies
Mike (uncredited)
Leo Mostovoy
Bandmaster in Dieppe (uncredited)
Gavin Muir
Captain Griffiths (uncredited)
Norbert Müller
Dietrich von Biesterburg (uncredited)
Steven Muller
Gerhard von Biesterburg (uncredited)
Ottola Nesmith
Orderly in Hospital (uncredited)
J. Pat O'Malley
Martin (uncredited)
Jean Prescott
Mrs. Kenney (uncredited)
John Rogers
Southampton Porter (uncredited)
Mabel Row
French Maid in Dieppe (uncredited)
Anita Sharp-Bolster
Miller (uncredited)
Arthur Shields
Benson (uncredited)
Elizabeth Taylor
Betsy Kenney at Age 10 (uncredited)
Larry Wheat
Guest in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe
Skipper of Honeymoon Boat (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Clarence Brown
Screenplay
George Froeschel
Screenplay
Claudine West
Screenplay
Jan Lustig
Reviews
Geronimo1967
June 30, 2022
7
Irene Dunne is superb here as a young American woman “Susan”, who travels to the UK with her grumpy, well meaning - indeed every inch his "Wizard of Oz" - father Frank Morgan (“Hiram") Once she arrives, she goes to a fancy ball where she meets and falls for the dashing "Sir John Ashwood" (Alan Marshal) and a whirlwind of a romance ensues. The rest of the story depicts her trials and tribulations as she tries to settle down with her new beau - and his rather cold, distant family whose views on Americans as loud, brash and all but uncivilised she finds alienating and difficult to adapt to. WWI intervenes, as does tragedy and the emphasis shifts to her bringing up their young son (briefly, an instantly recognisable 16 year-old Roddy McDowell) before he, too, has to go into service (by this time an equally dashing Peter Lawford) in WWII. There are far too many strong, decent supporting efforts to mention, but principally Dame May Whiity as the forceful, but ever so slightly slushy nanny; Sir C. Aubrey Smith as the hard as nails Colonel who melts like butter in the presence of Dunne and her child; Gladys Cooper as her mother-in-law and there is the tiniest of appearances from Elizabeth Taylor too. This is a story somewhat steeped in sentiment, but it isn't cloying - it depicts a changing world; not just wars and killing, but of fairly profound social change in Britain as the traditionally landed gentry see the gradual erosion of their wealth, rank and privilege. Tinged with frequent sorrow, this is an original, and poignant - occasionally humorous - coming of ages drama that has stood the test of time well.
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00
