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The Shining Hour

Play trailer Poster for The Shining Hour 1938 1h 16m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Sick of her life in New York City, nightclub dancer Olivia Riley (Joan Crawford) moves to Wisconsin to marry Henry Linden (Melvyn Douglas), a well-to-do farmer. Complications arise when Olivia and Henry's brother, David (Robert Young), become deeply attracted to each another. David does his best to hide his feelings for Olivia from Henry, but when their coldhearted sister, Hannah (Fay Bainter), learns about the pair's clandestine bond, she'll stop at nothing to keep them apart.
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The Shining Hour

Critics Reviews

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Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Feb 12
3.5/5
Frank Borzage has an excellent grasp on the direction of The Shining Hour as the filmmaker is able to find the right mix of melodrama and emotion. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 07/22/2024
2.5/4
The soap suds rise sky-high in this melodrama. Go to Full Review Josephine O'Neill Daily Telegraph (Australia) 10/14/2020
Worth seeing, for... Margaret Sullavan's heart-catching performance, and those swooningly. superb clothes. Otherwise "The Shining Hour" is one of those suffocating, sophisticated dramas in which people will change partners and talk about their emotions. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/23/2024 I always steer well clear of any film featuring the insufferable Joan Crawford. You should, too. See more Steve D 01/10/2024 Great work from a fantastic cast. See more 01/17/2014 Good drama with a gem of a performance from the great Margaret Sullavan. Everyone else is good but she is exceptional. See more 01/16/2014 joan finds herself caught up in a doomed romance See more 05/07/2013 Only if I liked you a little lesser or loved you a little more... A New York City nightclub dancer marries a charming man with lots of money. She moves out to the country with her new husband and into his large estate. The estate is also where her sister in-laws live, one sister is married and one sister is miserable and single. The miserable sister makes life practically impossible for the night club dancer who is also being strongly pursued by a lovesick younger man. Will the rich family drive her insane and into the arms of the young lover? "He put a frog in my hair, poured ink on my dress; so naturally, I fell in love with him." Frank Borzage, director of A Farewell to Arms, 7th Heaven, Stage Door Canteen, Three Comrades, China Doll, Strange Cargo, Street Angel, and The Gun Woman, delivers The Shining Hour. The storyline for this picture is fairly straightforward and honestly pretty predictable. The acting is remarkable and the cast includes Joan Crawford, Robert Young, Margaret Sullavan, Melvyn Douglas, Hattie McDaniel, and Frank Albertson. "After the first time things are never as lovely again." I DVR'd this picture off Turner Classic Movies (TCM) because I enjoy watching Joan Crawford flicks. Overall, this was a fun film to watch but is fairly straightforward with little misdirection or intriguing subplots. This is a film I'd probably skip unless you're a Joan Craford fan and I definitely wouldn't add it to my DVD collection. "Stop fighting and let it burn." Grade: B- See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 08/20/2010 The Shining Hour is a great film. Joan Crawford and Margaret Sullivan worked well together. The supporting cast is great too and includes Robert Young and Melvyn Douglas. The screenplay is well written. Frank Borzage does an incredible job directing this movie. The Shining Hour is a must see. See more Read all reviews
The Shining Hour

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Cast & Crew

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Frank Borzage

Director

Joan Crawford

Olivia Riley

Margaret Sullavan

Judy Linden

Robert Young

David Linden

Melvyn Douglas

Henry Linden

Fay Bainter

Hannah Linden
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The Shining Hour

The Shining Hour (1938) The Shining Hour (1938) The Shining Hour (1938) The Shining Hour (1938) The Shining Hour (1938) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Sick of her life in New York City, nightclub dancer Olivia Riley (Joan Crawford) moves to Wisconsin to marry Henry Linden (Melvyn Douglas), a well-to-do farmer. Complications arise when Olivia and Henry's brother, David (Robert Young), become deeply attracted to each another. David does his best to hide his feelings for Olivia from Henry, but when their coldhearted sister, Hannah (Fay Bainter), learns about the pair's clandestine bond, she'll stop at nothing to keep them apart.
Director
Frank Borzage
Producer
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 1938, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 23, 2009
Runtime
1h 16m
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