Notebook Reviews: ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS

Douglas Sirk – 1955

Douglas Sirk‘s All That Heaven Allows is a glorious looking melodrama which makes good use of its star Rock Hudson. Sirk’s film offers-up a great look at small town America in the 1950s and some wonderful looking wintery-landscapes.

The dialogue might be over-wrought and verging on the comical, but you get the feeling that Sirk new this. It’s pure soap opera, but few soap operas have ever looked his good.

All That Heaven Allows features the right balance of drama and humour and there is some strong social commentary scattered throughout. Recommended.