"There are no illegitimate children-only illegitimate parents!"
So shouts the beautiful, passionate Greer Garson to a room of law-making men when her orphanage is at stake. Based on a true story, Greer portrays the pioneer Edna Gladney who opened an orphanage in Texas and stood up for the rights of all children. She was nominated for an Academy Award, but was passed over for Joan Fontaine in Suspicion. The Members of the Board of the Hot Toasty Rag Awards were very happy to award Greer her first Rag. Her performance is wonderful, both full of emotions and held in by stoicism. When critiquing someone's performance, there's a lot to be considered. Sometimes someone is just given good lines to deliver, and they didn't really do anything spectacular. Sometimes the subject matter itself is powerful. It's also important to keep in mind how much an actor or actress is required to do. In Blossoms in the Dust, Greer not only has good lines, but she puts her training to good use and delivers them with incredible feeling. She's also given a lot to do, including aging, falling in love, acting as a businesswoman, and working with children. Believe it or not, I started off with a bad taste in my mouth for Miss Garson, as I'd only seen her in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. I had no idea she had so much talent, and that she'd wind up with two Rag Awards for Best Actress!
Included in the supporting cast is Felix Bressart, who deviated from his previous roles of the lovable, bumbling fool. He plays a doctor, and if you find him believable, you might find it interesting to know he was a doctor in real life! He's best known for his comedic flare, but he's certainly not the comic relief in this movie. He's just as dramatic as everyone else, and he keeps up with them, too.
This movie is very heavy, so you'd better be prepared. The start of the film shows young Greer with her childhood friend who kills herself after her engagement is broken because it's discovered her birth was illegitimate. The drama doesn't let up, and in fact only gets worse. Greer finds temporary happiness in her beautifully romantic marriage to Walter Pidgeon, but since this is a heavy drama, they find obstacles in their marital bliss. Pidge is very sweet in this movie as the ideal husband, and it's no wonder they were paired up together eight times. They're such a great, believable couple! If you like this movie-and discarding everything else, Greer's gorgeous costumes are enough reason to love it-check out Valley of Decision next. Pidge isn't in it, but it won Greer her second Rag and inducted her into the 2-Ragger Club.
So shouts the beautiful, passionate Greer Garson to a room of law-making men when her orphanage is at stake. Based on a true story, Greer portrays the pioneer Edna Gladney who opened an orphanage in Texas and stood up for the rights of all children. She was nominated for an Academy Award, but was passed over for Joan Fontaine in Suspicion. The Members of the Board of the Hot Toasty Rag Awards were very happy to award Greer her first Rag. Her performance is wonderful, both full of emotions and held in by stoicism. When critiquing someone's performance, there's a lot to be considered. Sometimes someone is just given good lines to deliver, and they didn't really do anything spectacular. Sometimes the subject matter itself is powerful. It's also important to keep in mind how much an actor or actress is required to do. In Blossoms in the Dust, Greer not only has good lines, but she puts her training to good use and delivers them with incredible feeling. She's also given a lot to do, including aging, falling in love, acting as a businesswoman, and working with children. Believe it or not, I started off with a bad taste in my mouth for Miss Garson, as I'd only seen her in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. I had no idea she had so much talent, and that she'd wind up with two Rag Awards for Best Actress!
Included in the supporting cast is Felix Bressart, who deviated from his previous roles of the lovable, bumbling fool. He plays a doctor, and if you find him believable, you might find it interesting to know he was a doctor in real life! He's best known for his comedic flare, but he's certainly not the comic relief in this movie. He's just as dramatic as everyone else, and he keeps up with them, too.
This movie is very heavy, so you'd better be prepared. The start of the film shows young Greer with her childhood friend who kills herself after her engagement is broken because it's discovered her birth was illegitimate. The drama doesn't let up, and in fact only gets worse. Greer finds temporary happiness in her beautifully romantic marriage to Walter Pidgeon, but since this is a heavy drama, they find obstacles in their marital bliss. Pidge is very sweet in this movie as the ideal husband, and it's no wonder they were paired up together eight times. They're such a great, believable couple! If you like this movie-and discarding everything else, Greer's gorgeous costumes are enough reason to love it-check out Valley of Decision next. Pidge isn't in it, but it won Greer her second Rag and inducted her into the 2-Ragger Club.