Review of All That Heaven Allows (1955) by Jeff D — 04 Feb 2008

What does Heaven allow? According to this Douglas Sirk melodrama, it doesn't allow much, especially if you have rich kids.

The plot is simple, middle-class widow (Wyman) is wooed by country handyman man (Hudson) to the snooty disapproval of her social circle and children. As opposed to most films where love prevails, she actually has real trouble deciding what to do.

Firstly, the acting is good. For melodrama, every muscle of Wyman and Hudson is tweeked to be as unesscary as the last. The supporting characters fare less well, often being stock "snooty man #4". However, the focus is Wyman, and she soaks the camera with her soap opera tears.

Sirk's cinematography and framing also work a treat, from Wyman's gloomy face in the television set, to the snow capped trees, Sirk captures each scene perfectly, allowing a rich use of mood and emotion to seep out.

Despite all this though, the melodrama is draining. It destroys believability in the situation, with every scene sure to be with a raised voice, or over the top acting, makes the film's plot simple and ineffective. The length also drags, making this film too long and schmaltzy. The material has aged badly, with some lingring footage on a deer being unintentionally hilarious.

In conclusion, "All that Heaven Allows" is a staple case of melodrama from the 50's. However, what it actually allows the viewer to garner from this film is not strictlt entertainment, but more an exercise on pretty vistas. From this, it appears that Heaven itself is glamourous from afar, but turgid up close. That is, if it allows you to get up close.