Director
Douglas Sirk
Leading Actors/Actresses
Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Agnes Moorehead and Conrad Nagel
Genre
Drama
Language
English
Awards
The film and the actors did not receive any awards.
Date of Release
25 December 1955
Producer
Ross Hunter
Setting and Context
The action takes place during the 1950s in New England.
Narrator and Point of View
The action is told from the perspective of a third-person objective point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood in the film are mostly tense.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist us Cary and the antagonists are represented by her friends and family who refuse to accept Cary's love for Ron.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is an internal one and is between Cary's desire to be with the man she loves and the need to subject herself to the accepted social norms.
Climax
The film reaches its climax when Cary and Ron end up together.
Foreshadowing
The film begins with Cary sitting together with her friends at her country club, discussing the life of another woman who decided to cheat on her husband. This woman is harshly criticized by those present and the idea is that she was shunned by the rest of the group. This scene is an important one because it foreshadowed the way in which Cary will be treated when she will decide to no longer adhere to the socially accepted norms and beliefs.
Understatement
When Cary's children claim they will do anything to make her happy is an understatement because it is later proven that they are far more interested in how society perceives them rather than taking care of their mother.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
N/A
Allusions
The main allusion we find here is the idea those who have a lot of money are unhappier when compared to those who have the bare minimum.
Paradox
The main paradoxical idea we find is that men are praised for finding someone a lot younger than them while women are criticized and shunned from society.
Parallelism
A parallel is drawn between Ron and Cary's deceased husband, soon after Cary realizes she had fallen in love. This parallel has the purpose of showing just how different and modern Ron is and how it makes Cary happy and fulfilled.
