All This, and Heaven Too

Last updated
All This, and Heaven Too
All this heaven movieposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Anatole Litvak
Screenplay by Casey Robinson
Based onAll This, and Heaven Too (1938 novel)
by Rachel Field
Produced by David Lewis
Hal B. Wallis
Starring Bette Davis
Charles Boyer
Barbara O'Neil
Cinematography Ernie Haller
Edited by Warren Low
Music by Max Steiner
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • July 4, 1940 (1940-07-04)
Running time
141 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

All This, and Heaven Too is a 1940 American drama film made by Warner Bros.-First National Pictures, produced and directed by Anatole Litvak with Hal B. Wallis as executive producer. The screenplay was adapted by Casey Robinson from the 1938 novel by Rachel Field. The music was by Max Steiner and the cinematography by Ernie Haller. The film stars Bette Davis and Charles Boyer with Barbara O'Neil, Jeffrey Lynn, Virginia Weidler, Helen Westley, Walter Hampden, Henry Daniell, Harry Davenport, George Coulouris, Montagu Love, Janet Beecher and June Lockhart.

Contents

Rachel Field's novel is based on the true story of Field's great-aunt, Henriette Deluzy-Desportes, a French governess who fell in love with the Duc de Praslin, her employer. When Praslin's wife was murdered, Henriette was implicated. It was a real-life scandal that contributed to the political turmoil before the French Revolution of 1848 which deposed France's Louis Philippe I. [1] [2] [3]

Plot

Screenshot of Charles Boyer and Bette Davis from the film's original trailer All This and Heaven Too trailer.JPG
Screenshot of Charles Boyer and Bette Davis from the film's original trailer

Mademoiselle Henriette Deluzy-Desportes, a French woman, starts teaching at an American girls school. She is confronted by the tales and gossip about her that circulate among her pupils and, thus provoked, she decides to tell them her life story.

Deluzy-Desportes is governess to the four children of the Duc and Duchesse de Praslin in Paris during the last years of the Orleans monarchy. As a result of the Duchesse's constantly erratic and temperamental behavior, all that remains is an unhappy marriage, but the Duc remains with his wife for the sake of their children.

Deluzy-Desportes, with her warmth and kindness, wins the love and affection of the children and their father, but also the jealousy and hatred of their mother. She is forced to leave and the Duchess refuses to give her a letter of recommendation to future employers. The Duc confronts his wife and she invents alternative letters taking opposite attitudes, which in fact she has not written and does not intend to write. Her account enrages him and, at the breaking point, he kills her.

The Duc de Praslin is in a privileged position; as a peer his case can only be heard by other nobles. He refuses to confess his guilt or openly to admit his love for his employee, knowing that his fellow nobles wish to use such an admission to blame her for the murder by declaring that he was acting at her bidding. Ultimately the Duc takes poison to prevent himself from ever publicly proclaiming his love for Henriette, since he knows that would convict her; however, he lives long enough to reveal it to another of his servants, Pierre, a kindly old man who had warned the governess to leave the de Praslin household. With the Duc's death, the authorities accept that they have no evidence upon which to base a judgment that Henriette solicited the murder and she is released from the Conciergerie.

Deluzy-Desportes had been recommended for the teaching position "in the land of the free" by an American minister, Rev. Henry Field, to whom she had expressed a loss of faith while in prison. He proposes marriage, and it is implied that Henriette will accept.

Cast

Reception

The film was positively reviewed by critics. Once the film premiered at the Radio City Music Hall, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that film-goers willing to sit through the long running time "will find the film a source of much emotional satisfaction; others of less Spartan stamp will certainly protest that it wears out their patience in the telling of a comparatively uncomplicated tale. For the Warners are here handing out a tear-laden old-fashioned drama—and a very heavy one, too." [4]

Variety called it "film theatre at its best...Casey Robinson in the scripting captured the quaintness of the manners and customs of Paris, in 1848, and succeeded admirably in retaining both spirit and characters of the novel, despite the necessity for much deletion of material." [5] Film Daily's headline announced: "Dramatically powerful, beautifully mounted and superbly cast; film should be one of year's strongest box-office attractions." [6] Harrison's Reports wrote: "A powerful drama, with a strong appeal for women. The production is lavish, and the direction and performances are of the highest order." [7] John Mosher of The New Yorker wrote that Litvak had swung the viewer into the historical setting "with all the romantic, profuse gusto at his command. I think a few of the scenes of governess and children might have been elided, for, with the sinister doings in the background, we can't forever sustain a nursery mood. In general, though, the long picture seems short, which, of course, is something very much in its favor." [8]

All This, and Heaven Too placed fifth on Film Daily's year-end nationwide poll of 546 critics naming the best films of 1940. [9] The film is considered to be a very successful, but expensive costume drama. [10]

Accolades

AwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards Outstanding Production Jack L. Warner, Hal B. Wallis, and David Lewis (for Warner Bros.)Nominated [11]
Best Supporting Actress Barbara O'Neil Nominated
Best Cinematography – Black and White Ernest Haller Nominated

Home media

On April 1, 2008, Warner Home Video released the film as part of the box set The Bette Davis Collection, Volume 3.

Related Research Articles

<i>Mr. Skeffington</i> 1944 film by Vincent Sherman

Mr. Skeffington is a 1944 American drama film directed by Vincent Sherman, based on the 1940 novel of the same name by Elizabeth von Arnim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta</span> French soldier, diplomat, and politician (1771–1851)

Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta was a French general, diplomat, and politician, who served as Naval Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of State under the July Monarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Weidler</span> American actress

Virginia Anna Adeleid Weidler was an American child actress, popular in Hollywood films during the 1930s and 1940s.

<i>The Great Lie</i> 1941 film by Edmund Goulding

The Great Lie is a 1941 American drama film directed by Edmund Goulding, and starring Bette Davis, George Brent and Mary Astor. The screenplay by Lenore J. Coffee is based on the novel January Heights by Polan Banks.

<i>Madame Du Barry</i> (1934 film) 1934 film by William Dieterle

Madame DuBarry is a 1934 American historical film directed by William Dieterle and starring Dolores del Río, Reginald Owen, Victor Jory and Osgood Perkins. The film portrays the life of Madame Du Barry, the last mistress of King Louis XV of France. While this film does not serve accuracy to Madame Du Barry, it does feature antiques and jewelry that came from the actual days when Madame Du Barry lived. This film was being edited just as the Hollywood Production Code was gaining real power, and faced many problems with censors of the time. A May 27, 1934, New York Times column, “Studio Activities on the Western Front”, focusing on the “cracking down” of censors noted that a reel and a half had already been cut from the film, including a bedroom scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Martyn Field (minister)</span> American author and clergyman (1822–1907)

Henry Martyn Field was an American author and clergyman. He was the publisher and editor of The Evangelist for 44 years. He traveled extensively and his travel books were unusually popular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara O'Neil</span> American actress (1910–1980)

Barbara O'Neil was an American film and stage actress. She appeared in the film Gone with the Wind (1939) and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in All This, and Heaven Too (1940).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie Joséphine Louise, duchesse de Gontaut</span>

Marie Joséphine Louise, duchesse de Gontaut (1773–1857) was a French court office holder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henriette of France</span> French princess (1727–1752)

Anne Henriette of France was a French princess, a fille de France. She was the second child of King Louis XV and Queen Marie Leszczyńska, and the twin of Louise Élisabeth of France. She was also considered the favorite daughter of the royal couple and was known for her sweet and gentle personality.

Ernest Jacob HallerASC, sometimes known as Ernie J. Haller, was an American cinematographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles de Choiseul, Duke of Praslin</span> French nobleman and politician (1805–1847)

Charles de Choiseul, Duke of Praslin was a French nobleman and politician, who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies in 1838–1842. Choiseul-Praslin's suicide, occurring while he faced trial for the murder of his wife, the Duchess de Choiseul-Praslin, caused a scandal which in turn contributed to the outbreak of the 1848 Revolution and the fall of the July Monarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Héraclius de Gramont, 9th Duke of Gramont</span>

Héraclius de Gramont, 9th Duke of Gramont, 9th Duke of Gramont, Duke of Guiche, Prince of Bidache, etc. was a 19th-century French aristocratic Army general and courtier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny</span>

François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny, 2ieme duc de Coigny was a Marshal of France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henriette Louise de Bourbon</span> Mademoiselle de Vermandois

Henriette Louise de Bourbon was a French princess by birth and a member of the House of Bourbon. She was the abbess of Beaumont-lès-Tours Abbey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Françoise, duchesse de Praslin</span> French duchess and heiress (1807–1847)

Françoise, Duchess de Choiseul-Praslin was a French duchess and heiress who was found murdered. Her husband, Charles de Choiseul, Duke of Praslin was believed guilty for her death and committed suicide while awaiting trial days later on August 24, 1847. These events in 1847 contributed to the French Revolution of 1848.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Béatrix de Choiseul</span>

Béatrix de Choiseul, Duchess of Gramont was a French salonnière and bibliophile. She was known for her close relationship to her brother the Duke of Choiseaul and credited with an influential position at court during his tenure as minister in 1758–1770. She is also known for her attempt to become the official mistress of Louis XV in the 1760s, and her succeeding feud with Madame du Barry.

Alexander Stuart-Hill was a Scottish portrait and landscape artist who lived in Paris who was engaged to Princess Louise of Battenberg before her marriage to King Gustaf VI Adolf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henriette Deluzy-Desportes</span> French artist (1813–1875)

Henriette Deluzy-Desportes (1813–1875) was a French governess who was the subject of a scandal with Charles Laure Hugues Théobald, duc de Choiseul-Praslin. The scandal played a role in bringing down the King of France. The story of her life in Paris was the basis for a book written by her great niece and made into the movie All This, and Heaven Too starring Bette Davis in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Félix Desportes</span>

Félix Desportes was the first mayor of Montmarte, secretary to Lucien Bonaparte, and Prefect of Haut-Rhin.

Pierre Claude François Delorme (1783–1859) was a French painter and printmaker. He studied art under Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson. He exhibited at The Salon in Paris from 1810 to 1851. He lithographed many compositions after Girodet-Trioson.

References

  1. "All This, and Heaven Too (1940) - Articles - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on 2016-06-09. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  2. "Henriette Desportes Field (1813-1875)". findagrave.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. Alexis de Tocqueville, Souvenirs, édition réalisée par Luc Monnier, Paris, Gallimard, 1942
  4. Crowther, Bosley (July 5, 1940). "Movie Review - All This, and Heaven Too". The New York Times . Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  5. "All This, and Heaven Too". Variety . New York: Variety, Inc. June 12, 1940. p. 14.
  6. "Reviews of the New Films". Film Daily . New York: Wid's Films and Folk Folk, Inc.: 13 June 17, 1940.
  7. "All This, and Heaven Too with Bette Davis, Charles Boyer, Jeffrey Lynn and Barbara O'Neil". Harrison's Reports : 98. June 22, 1940.
  8. "The Current Cinema". The New Yorker . New York: F-R Publishing Corp. July 6, 1940. p. 46.
  9. "'Rebecca' wins Critics' Poll". Film Daily . New York: Wid's Films and Folk Folk, Inc.: 1 January 14, 1941.
  10. Glancy, H. Mark. "Warner Bros film grosses, 1921-51", Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television (March 1995); accessed December 16, 2015.
  11. "The 13th Academy Awards (1941) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.