An American Romance

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An American Romance

1944

2h 31m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Czech Stefan Dangosbiblichek (Brian Donlevy) immigrates to America where, despite having almost no money, he is allowed through Ellis Island. Stefan makes an arduous journey on foot to Minnesota, where his cousin works in a mine. Ambitious and energetic, he changes his name to Steve Dangos and eagerly learns English from teacher Anna O'Rourke (Ann Richards), whom he soon marries. The couple move to Chicago to pursue Steve's dream of success, but the way to American citizenship proves rocky.

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Mr. Vidor made a great big color picture with an abundance of vivid American scenes but with a story so banal and tedious that the whole film seems one massive platitude.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 1, 2013

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Time Out

No other American director ever matched Vidor's sense of personal struggle, or the muscular poetry he found to express it.

Jul 1, 2013

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Even as the drama disintegrates, Vidor's skill in presenting the rhythms of collective action (here, the work of the mills and factories) raises the documentary sections of the film to the level of his best work.

Jul 1, 2013

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Don Q.

Cine-Mundial

[Breaks] old molds to give way to ideas of renewal and progress, essential in the growth and power of a nation. [Full review in Spanish]

Sep 18, 2019

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Film4 Staff

Film4

It takes a while to get going, but is an exemplary piece of film-making nevertheless.

Jul 1, 2013

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TV Guide

Virtuoso performance by Donlevy from young immigrant to old industrialist keeps this overlong saga moving.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 1, 2013

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joe m

Pure unadulterated pap - yet so enjoyable! The tale of a immigrant, Steve Dangos (Donlevy), from some unnamed Scandinavian country who makes his way from Ellis Island to the Mesabi iron range. He meets a school teacher (Richards) who helps learn him. Well, he gets to know iron mining. Then he goes out to an unnamed Midwest city and gets to know steel manufacturing. Finally, he uses all his learning and experience to get in to the auto industry and become a huge success. The tired yet inspiring Horatio Alger story then mixed in with documentary like elements of all these industries. Carried by the two leads and just a heartwarming piece of American mythos, hammy as the whole thing is.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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s r

I really enjoyed this tribute to the American dream and the principles of individual initiative. A sincere, feel good film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

a big technicolor epic about america thru the eyes of an immingrant

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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King Vidor

Director

Brian Donlevy

Steve Dangos

Ann Richards

Anna O'Rourke Dangos

Walter Abel

Howard Clinton

John Qualen

Anton Dubechek

Stephen McNally

Teddy Roosevelt Dangos

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Synopsis

Czech Stefan Dangosbiblichek (Brian Donlevy) immigrates to America where, despite having almost no money, he is allowed through Ellis Island. Stefan makes an arduous journey on foot to Minnesota, where his cousin works in a mine. Ambitious and energetic, he changes his name to Steve Dangos and eagerly learns English from teacher Anna O'Rourke (Ann Richards), whom he soon marries. The couple move to Chicago to pursue Steve's dream of success, but the way to American citizenship proves rocky.

Director: King Vidor
Screenwriter: Herbert Dalmas, William Ludwig
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jan 19, 2010
Runtime: 2h 31m