Written on the Wind (1956)

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

Robert Wilder (novel)
George Zuckerman (writer)

Release Date:

December 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

This woman in his arms was now the wife of the man he called his best friend!

Plot:

Alcoholic playboy Kyle Hadley marries the woman secretly loved by his poor but hard-working best friend, who in turn is pursued by Kyle's nymphomaniac sister.

Plot Keywords:

Told In Flashback | Accidental Shooting | Picnic | Gun Under Pillow | Depression

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Rock Hudson	...	Mitch Wayne
Lauren Bacall	...	Lucy Moore Hadley
Robert Stack	...	Kyle Hadley
Dorothy Malone	...	Marylee Hadley
Robert Keith	...	Jasper Hadley
Grant Williams	...	Biff Miley (service station attendant)
Robert J. Wilke	...	Dan Willis (proprietor, The Cove)
Edward Platt	...	Dr. Paul Cochrane (as Edward C. Platt)
Harry Shannon	...	Hoak Wayne
John Larch	...	Roy Carter (with Marylee at The Cove)
Joseph Granby	...	R.J. Courtney (County Solicitor at inquest)
Roy Glenn	...	Sam (butler)
Maidie Norman	...	Bertha (maid)
William Schallert	...	Jack Williams (reporter)
Joanne Jordan	...	Brunette
Dani Crayne	...	Blonde
Dorothy Porter	...	Secretary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gail Bonney	...	Hotel floorlady (uncredited)
Paul Bradley	...	Maitre d' (uncredited)
Robert Brubaker	...	Hotel manager (uncredited)
Carl Christian	...	Ben (country club bartender) (uncredited)
Kevin Corcoran	...	Boy on Electric Hobbyhorse (uncredited)
George DeNormand	...	(uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Restaurant patron (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Don C. Harvey	...	Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
Phil Harvey	...	College boy at party (uncredited)
Bert Holland	...	Court clerk (uncredited)
Jane Howard	...	Beer drinker (uncredited)
Carlene King Johnson	...	College girl at party (uncredited)
Chester Jones	...	Attendant (uncredited)
Glen Kramer	...	College boy at party (uncredited)
Robert Lyden	...	Kyle as a boy (voice) (uncredited)
Robert Malcolm	...	Hotel proprietor (uncredited)
Coleen McClatchey	...	College girl at party (uncredited)
Susan Odin	...	Marylee as a girl (voice) (uncredited)
Cynthia Patrick	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Floyd Simmons	...	Beer drinker (uncredited)
Robert Winans	...	Mitch as a boy (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Sirk

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robert Wilder		novel
George Zuckerman		writer

Produced by
Albert Zugsmith	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
Russell Metty

Film Editing by
Russell F. Schoengarth

Art Direction by
Robert Clatworthy
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas		(gowns)
Jay A. Morley Jr.		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Holland	....	assistant director
Wilson Shyer	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Robert Pritchard	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Clifford Stine	....	special photography

Editorial Department
William Fritzsche	....	color consultant: Technicolor

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• ClassicLine (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Runtime:

99 min | UK:100 min (re-release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #17932) | Finland:K-16 (1956) | Finland:K-12 (1989) | Australia:PG | New Zealand:R16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:6

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The movie was rumored to be based on the death of tobacco heir Zachary "Smith" Reynolds. The youngest son of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds, the 20-year old playboy had a complete disinterest in the family business, an inexhaustible allowance and a volatile temper. Smith owned a plane and literally stalked Broadway musical comedy star Libby Holman until the 27-year old singer married him in 1931. Their marriage was a clash of wills and during an alcohol-fueled July 4th holiday party in 1932 at the family's estate, Libby announced she was pregnant. Stories differ, but there was reportedly a tense confrontation, a gunshot and the young Smith was dead. Libby and Ab Walker, a close friend of Smith's who was whispered to be her lover, were indicted for murder. Fearing scandal over their son's activities, the intensely private Reynolds family pressed authorities to drop the charges. The death was officially ruled a suicide.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Although set in Texas, all cars in the film have clearly visible California plates.

Quotes:

Marylee Hadley: But you don't have to take my word for anything. Just try keeping your head clear and your eyes open.
Kyle Hadley: Why should you care? You've never cared about me.
Marylee Hadley: ...Or your wife.
Kyle Hadley: Why are you putting your two cents in?
Marylee Hadley: Only because of Mitch. Because I've never had him. And your wife has.
[Kyle slaps her]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Roma (2004)

Soundtrack:

WRITTEN ON THE WIND

Where trash becomes art

What can you say about "Written on the Wind," other than this is where the

genre of overproduced, inane Hollywood melodramas teeters into the realm of

genuine art. Every aspect of this highly artificial concoction is fully realized, an amazing example of the whole becoming far more than the sum of its parts.

Elements that are, considered separately, laughable (the abundance of

Freudian symbols, the hyperrealistic colors, the over-the-top acting, the gushy soundtrack) all strangely combine into a hypnotically watchable masterpiece. Clearly there's a genuine artist (director Douglas Sirk) at work here -- someone who can take all the usually misused contents of the 1950s Hollywood big

studio toolbox and create an astonishing work of art.