Aging | Kevin Barrett's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Aging’

The Education Of An American

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged Academy Award Nominations, Aging, Arnold Iselin, Best Art Direction Oscar, Best Picture Nomination, Captain Lockert, David Niven, Dodsworth (1936) — movie review, Edith Cortright, Europe, Fran Dodsworth, General Comments, Harry McKee, Hollywood, Italy, John Payne, London, Maria Ouspenskaya, Marital Infidelity, Mary Astor, Movie Reviews, Paris, Paul Lukas, Pride, Reviews, Rudolph Maté, Ruth Chatterton, Sam Dodsworth, Sidney Howard, Sinclair Lewis, Strong Movie Recommendation, Vanity, Vienna, Walter Huston, William Wyle on January 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“Dodsworth” (1936) — movie review
Today’s review is for the mature, quietly devastating drama “Dodsworth” (1936), directed by William Wyler and starring Walter Huston as Sam Dodsworth (a self-made automobile magnate confronting the limits of success and the fragility of marriage); Ruth Chatterton as Fran Dodsworth (his socially ambitious wife, desperate to outrun aging); Mary Astor as Edith Cortright (the warm, grounded expatriate who becomes Sam’s romantic interest); Paul Lukas as Arnold Iselin (one of Fran’s – several – affairs in Europe); John Payne in his first role playing Harry McKee (Dodsworth’s son-in-law); Maria Ouspenskaya as the elderly mother of one of Fran’s “suitors”; and David Niven in an early role as Captain Lockert (the first of Fran’s fleeting romantic diversions). Adapted from Sinclair Lewis’s novel and Sidney Howard’s play, the film examines pride, vanity, aging, and the search for meaning with a restraint that still feels modern.

Background: This is my first viewing of this film and I did so with no prior knowledge except that it had been a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Released in 1936, “Dodsworth” arrived during a period when studios were experimenting with more mature themes, and Wyler’s direction helped elevate it beyond the typical melodrama of the era. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Walter Huston), Best Supporting Actress (Maria Ouspenskaya), and Best Director. It won the Oscar for Best Art Direction. Historically, it stands as one of the earliest Hollywood films to treat marital dissolution with emotional realism rather than moralizing or melodramatic excess.

Plot: Sam Dodsworth, having sold his successful automobile company, retires “early” (mid-50’s) and takes his wife Fran on a long promised grand European tour. Sam is resistant, but hopes for shared adventure; Fran hopes for reinvention. Actually, she hoping it will somehow stop her from aging. As they travel from London to Paris to Vienna, Fran becomes increasingly infatuated with the attention of younger, more cosmopolitan men. Sam, bewildered but patient, tries to accommodate her restless vanity. Their marriage fractures as Fran pursues flirtations and then outright affairs, insisting she needs “life” and “youth” more than the stability Sam offers. Sam, wounded but dignified, eventually meets Edith Cortright, an American expatriate living quietly in Italy. Her warmth and grounding contrast sharply with Fran’s insecurity and pretension. When Fran’s final attempt at remarriage collapses under the weight of her own deceptions, she begs Sam to return. The film’s climax hinges on whether Sam will resume the life he knows or embrace the possibility of a new one. In fact, he appears to choose both.

So, is this movie any good? How’s the acting? The filming / FX? Any problems? And, did I enjoy the film? Short answers: Yes; superb; elegant and restrained; a few; absolutely.

Any good? Yes. “Dodsworth” is a surprisingly modern-feeling drama about aging, ego, and emotional honesty. Its power lies in understatement: the film trusts its audience to understand the quiet devastation of a failing marriage without resorting to theatrics. It’s a mature film for mature viewers — and that’s meant as a compliment.

Acting: I have no prior viewing experience with most of this cast. In receiving a Best Actor nomination for this role, Walter Huston delivers what might be a career-defining performance as Sam Dodsworth. His portrayal is layered: proud yet vulnerable, bewildered yet dignified. Ruth Chatterton’s Fran is almost equally compelling — infuriating and painfully recognizable as someone terrified of becoming “considered” old. Mary Astor brings warmth and intelligence to Edith, grounding the film’s emotional arc. Even the smaller roles (including a young David Niven) add texture. The ensemble is uniformly strong, but Huston’s quiet heartbreak is what you remember.

Filming / FX: Wyler’s direction is clean and unobtrusive, letting the performances carry the emotional weight. The cinematography by Rudolph Maté uses framing and shadow to emphasize emotional distance, particularly between Sam and Fran. The production design — which won the film its Oscar — convincingly evokes European sophistication without overwhelming the story. There are no “effects” in the modern sense, but the film’s visual restraint is part of its strength: it feels intimate, lived-in, and emotionally believable.

Problems: A few. Fran’s character, while psychologically rich, frequently / repeatedly veers into shrillness. It’s difficult to say if this may be more a reflection of the era’s acting conventions or a flaw in the writing. Some supporting characters appear briefly and vanish just as quickly, leaving their arcs feeling underdeveloped. For me, the main issue was the sound of music occasionally overpowered the sound of dialogue making it difficult to hear what was being said. The second big issue was it was just hard for me to believe the couple had been married for 20 years and this was the “out-of-the-blue” indication Fran Dodsworth has shown that she is insufferably insecure about her age. I went along with it for the movie, but it was too much to believe and in the end, I was just waiting for her to get her comeuppance.

Did I enjoy the film? Absolutely. “Dodsworth” is a grown-up film about grown-up problems — a rarity in any era. I found it emotionally honest, beautifully acted, and surprisingly moving. It’s the kind of film you’ll think about after the credits roll.

Final Recommendation: Strong recommendation. “Dodsworth” is a landmark of mature Hollywood storytelling — historically significant for its Oscar recognition, its literary pedigree, and its nuanced treatment of marital disintegration. Watch it for Walter Huston’s extraordinary performance, Wyler’s restrained direction, and the film’s timeless exploration of pride, aging, and second chances. It’s not a flashy film, but it is a deeply human one — and well worth your time.

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Click here (24 January) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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There In The Game

Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged A Team, Aging, All the Best - George Bush: My Life In Letters and Other Writings, Bad Bounces, Being There, Fishing, Golf, Horse Shoes, https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/i-think-one-of-the-noblest-projects, Letters Of Note, Other Blogs, Philosophy, President George H. W. Bush, Quotes, Rough Seas, Showing Up, Victories on June 2, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I want to put this “aging” on hold for awhile now.

I don’t expect to be on the A team anymore; but I want to play golf with you. And I want to fish or throw shoes. And I want to rejoice in your victories be they political, or business, or family happiness victories. And I want to be there for you if you get a bad bounce in life, and no doubt you will for the seas do indeed get rough. When I say “be there” I don’t mean just showing up — I mean in the game, in the lineup, viscerally involved in your lives even though I might be miles away.

— George H. W. Bush, age 74
Letter to his children, 23rd Sep 1998
From: “All the Best, George Bush: My Life In Letters and Other Writings“

[Found at one of the blogs I follow: Letters of Note

Please visit the original site and support it if you are able. — kmab]

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Click here (2 June) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Grateful For The Gift

Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Charles Blow, Grace, Gratitude, https://davidkanigan.com/, Live And Learn, Memories, New York Times, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Summer, The Beauty of Embracing Aging, Wisdom on June 23, 2024| 2 Comments »

Relish every summer day. Stretch them. Fill them with memories. Smile and laugh more. Gather with friends and visit family. Put my feet in the water. Grow things and grill things. I make my summers count by making them beautiful. I have no intention of raging against my aging. I intend to embrace it, to embrace the muscle aches and the crow’s feet as the price of growing in wisdom and grace; to understand that age is not my body forsaking me but my life rewarding me.

Aging, as I see it, is a gift, and I will receive it with gratitude.

— Charles Blow

From: “The Beauty of Embracing Aging“
An editorial appearing in: New York Times, dtd: June 5, 2024

[Found at one of the blogs I follow: https://davidkanigan.com/
The specific post can be found at: https://davidkanigan.com/2024/06/07/i-got-about-30-more-summers-left/

Please visit the original site if you have some free time. — kmab]

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Click here (23 June) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Suddenly Rings True

Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Dawn Powell, https://news.lettersofnote.com/, Letters Of Note, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Phyllis Cook, Quotes, Tree Rings, Trees on March 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I am really fascinated by the aging process, even if the victim is me. Somebody told me humans age like trees. I had said one seems to be about 40 for 8 or 10 yrs. and then almost overnight teeth and hair and all age and you are 50 for about 10 yrs., then with a big clank like a rusty chain you’re 60 and so on. Anyway, they tell me trees do this too. The ring of the age cycle on the trunk shows up the same way — suddenly.

— Dawn Powell
Letter to Phyllis Cook
Dtd: 14th Mar 1964
From: “Selected Letters of Dawn Powell“
Found at one of the blogs I follow: Letters of Note
The specific post is: I Think One of the Noblest Projects

[Please visit the original site and support it if you are able. — kmab]

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Click here (14 March) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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I Can’t Decide If I Am Young Or Old

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Mark Twain, Optimism, Pessimism, Philosophy, Quotes, Sadness on September 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

There is no sadder thing than a young pessimist, except an old optimist.

— Mark Twain

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Click here (2 September) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Sometimes Once Can Be Enough

Posted in Family and Friends, Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Albert Einstein, Anonymous, Happy Birthday to me, Humor, Kids, Philosophy, Quotes, Richard Gere, Shag Pile Carpet, Socks, Young At Heart on March 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag pile carpet to change the TV channel.

— Anonymous

I have reached an age when, if someone tells me to wear socks, I don’t have to.

— Albert Einstein

I am old but I am forever young at heart. … Each year is special and precious, you can only live it once.

— Richard Gere

[Happy Birthday to me! — kmab]

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Click here (28 March) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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The Air Is Thinner, But It’s A Killer View

Posted in Family and Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Better View, Happy Birthday to me, Ingrid Bergman, Mountain Climbing, Out Of Breath, Philosophy, Quotes, Satchel Paige on March 28, 2022| 3 Comments »

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

— Satchel Paige

Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!

— Ingrid Bergman

[Happy Birthday to me! — kmab]

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Click here (28 March) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Keep Playing

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, George Bernard Shaw, Growing Old, Philosophy, Playing, Quotes on March 7, 2022| 2 Comments »

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

— George Bernard Shaw

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Click here (7 March) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Keep Growing

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Being Old, Growing, Philosophy, Quotes, William James on April 28, 2021| Leave a Comment »

The minute a man ceases to grow, no matter what his years, that minute he begins to be old.

— William James

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Click here (28 April) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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I Don’t Want To Get Any Older…

Posted in Health, Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Being Younger, Getting Older, Health, Humor, Living Longer, Philosophy, Quotes, Ralph Waldo Emerson on August 13, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Getting old is a fascination thing. The older you get, the older you want to get.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

[… I want to live longer just the way I am. Okay, maybe the way I was twenty years ago – when I had more of my original issue bits and pieces. — kmab]

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Slow Wisdom

Posted in Philosophy, Proverbs, Quotes, tagged Aging, Chinese Proverb, Dawn, Philosophy, Proverbs, Quotes, Sleep, Wisdom on July 16, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Not until just before dawn do people sleep best; not until people get old do they become wise.

— Chinese Proverb

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Looking Into Golf

Posted in Humor, Quotes, Sports, tagged Aging, Franklin Pierce Adams, Golf, Humor, Middle Age, Quotes, Sports, Tennis on September 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Years ago we discovered the exact point, the dead center of middle age. It occurs when you are too young to take up golf and too old to rush up to the net.

— Franklin Pierce Adams

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Click here (26 September) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Does Smiling Count?

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, George Bernard Shaw, Growing Old, Laughing, Philosophy, Quotes on July 27, 2018| Leave a Comment »

You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.

― George Bernard Shaw

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I’d Be Happy With Another Score (Or So)

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Edward Abbey, Immortality, Longevity, Philosophy, Quotes on February 21, 2018| Leave a Comment »

I do not believe in personal immortality; it seems so unnecessary. Show me one man who deserves to live forever.

— Edward Abbey

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Click here (21 February) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Trying To Stay Young

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aging, Arteries, Heart, Michael Hansbury, Philosophy, Quotes on January 29, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Hardening of the heart ages people more quickly than hardening of the arteries.

— Michael Hansbury

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Click here (29 January) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.