Douglas Sirk directed this gaslight era melodrama about a woman who deserted her family and ten years later upon receipt of a letter from her daughter Lori Nelson who wants to go on the stage just like mom did, Barbara Stanwyck returns to her stodgy mid western town and her stodgy husband Richard Carlson who is the high school principal.
Stanwyck's three children run the gamut of reaction to her reappearance. The oldest Marcia Henderson is daddy's little girl and really resents mom coming home. Nelson is infatuated with what she thinks is a glamorous life in the theater and is thrilled mom came home to see her in a school play. Billy Gray is the youngest and he barely remembers her, but he's happy to see her.
Douglas Sirk made a big mistake in casting Lyle Bettger as the store owner with whom Stanwyck was having a fling before she left. Maybe it's simply image, but Bettger played some of the biggest psychotic villains of the era and I can't believe Stanwyck ever went near him. Someone who was a bit more suave and elegant would have fit the bill perfectly.
Bigger mistake was a forced happy ending which was contrary to the book this film came from. There was just too much that happened for Stanwyck ever to return.
Still Barbara is quite effective, her best scenes are with her two daughters, Henderson and Nelson. All I Desire will not go down in her ten best list, but fans won't be disappointed.
Stanwyck's three children run the gamut of reaction to her reappearance. The oldest Marcia Henderson is daddy's little girl and really resents mom coming home. Nelson is infatuated with what she thinks is a glamorous life in the theater and is thrilled mom came home to see her in a school play. Billy Gray is the youngest and he barely remembers her, but he's happy to see her.
Douglas Sirk made a big mistake in casting Lyle Bettger as the store owner with whom Stanwyck was having a fling before she left. Maybe it's simply image, but Bettger played some of the biggest psychotic villains of the era and I can't believe Stanwyck ever went near him. Someone who was a bit more suave and elegant would have fit the bill perfectly.
Bigger mistake was a forced happy ending which was contrary to the book this film came from. There was just too much that happened for Stanwyck ever to return.
Still Barbara is quite effective, her best scenes are with her two daughters, Henderson and Nelson. All I Desire will not go down in her ten best list, but fans won't be disappointed.