Obviously it is out there somewhere. In a later episode of "Falcon Crest", a scene from this was used for the character of Angela Channing to be told that her son had died. An independent film that was released by RKO, this is a beloved film that collectors hold dearly and hopes that eventually a pristine print will show up. In the meantime, we'll have to deal with the graininess and much transferred TV prints that are out there, a surprise considering that both Jane Wyman and Joan Blondell received Oscar nominations for their performances.
While the word is never used, Jane Wyman is basically a nanny, not in the sense of Bette Davis or Fran Drescher in the film and TV series "The Nanny", closer to the nurse/governess of Davis in "All This and Heaven Too". Desperate for work after her husband and baby dies, she takes a job as a nurse made to the newborn child of the widowed Charles Laughton, and goes from family to family for decades, finding various situations and joys in the children that she helps rear.
There's uppity Agnes Moorehead, a socialite with little time for her own children, musical comedy performer Joan Blondell, and later, a mother who leaves her child behind when she goes off to war duty, causing Wyman to fight to keep the child when she returns several years later. When she's too old to work in that field, she becomes a cleaning lady in a grade school, still Loving the children from afar, and eventually reunited with all of her charges, now grown up.
Having been successful on Broadway, Vivian Vance had one of her few film roles here, playing the secretary to Lawton who is his second choice for a wife, rather condescending to Wyman in a passive aggressive manner, and quite different than Ethel Mertz, the TV legendary character she created the same year. She must have been frustrated by the pairing with Laughton considering his proximity in age to her TV co-star William Frawley. Indeed, the prospect of the portly Laughton being a new father is funny.
While Blondell's role as the musical comedy star is quite similar to other roles that she played, there's a different aspect to the character that obviously critics noticed and praise and ended up getting her awarded the Oscar nomination. Young Natalie Wood is her daughter who begins to claim that Wyman is her mother because of Blondell's unintentional neglect. Wyman does have opportunity for romance but gives it up in favor of her love for children, and her sacrifice will have you reaching for the kleenex.
In an amusing supporting role as Wyman's old friend, Cyril Cusack proves that his character is not the perfect representation of customer service, running a toy store even though he obviously despises children. Yes, this does get awfully sentimental but it's a sentiment that works and in spite of a few weaknesses in the screenplay, this will touch your heart deeply. It truly is one of Wyman's finest hours.
While the word is never used, Jane Wyman is basically a nanny, not in the sense of Bette Davis or Fran Drescher in the film and TV series "The Nanny", closer to the nurse/governess of Davis in "All This and Heaven Too". Desperate for work after her husband and baby dies, she takes a job as a nurse made to the newborn child of the widowed Charles Laughton, and goes from family to family for decades, finding various situations and joys in the children that she helps rear.
There's uppity Agnes Moorehead, a socialite with little time for her own children, musical comedy performer Joan Blondell, and later, a mother who leaves her child behind when she goes off to war duty, causing Wyman to fight to keep the child when she returns several years later. When she's too old to work in that field, she becomes a cleaning lady in a grade school, still Loving the children from afar, and eventually reunited with all of her charges, now grown up.
Having been successful on Broadway, Vivian Vance had one of her few film roles here, playing the secretary to Lawton who is his second choice for a wife, rather condescending to Wyman in a passive aggressive manner, and quite different than Ethel Mertz, the TV legendary character she created the same year. She must have been frustrated by the pairing with Laughton considering his proximity in age to her TV co-star William Frawley. Indeed, the prospect of the portly Laughton being a new father is funny.
While Blondell's role as the musical comedy star is quite similar to other roles that she played, there's a different aspect to the character that obviously critics noticed and praise and ended up getting her awarded the Oscar nomination. Young Natalie Wood is her daughter who begins to claim that Wyman is her mother because of Blondell's unintentional neglect. Wyman does have opportunity for romance but gives it up in favor of her love for children, and her sacrifice will have you reaching for the kleenex.
In an amusing supporting role as Wyman's old friend, Cyril Cusack proves that his character is not the perfect representation of customer service, running a toy store even though he obviously despises children. Yes, this does get awfully sentimental but it's a sentiment that works and in spite of a few weaknesses in the screenplay, this will touch your heart deeply. It truly is one of Wyman's finest hours.