Zoom Discussion of Dodsworth (1935) – 101 minutes

CinemaLit Popcorn Pop-Up Salon

April 2021 – Directed by William Wyler

The Academy Awards are handed out on April 25 this year, and now seems like the right moment to pay tribute to William Wyler. With twelve nominations and three wins, he remains the most honored director in Academy history.

We are highlighting five Wyler films, each a nominee for Best Picture and for acting categories, with one capturing the Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Supporting Actor honors: the multiple Oscar winning The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Dodsworth (1936), Dead End (1937), Wuthering Heights (1939), and The Little Foxes (1941).

Born in Alsace-Lorraine in 1902, young Wyler soon proved himself unfit for the family haberdashery business. His mother arranged for her rebellious son to meet Carl Laemmle, her talent-scouting cousin and founder of Universal Pictures. Eventually, Wyler moved to Southern California and the Universal lot, where he began as a production assistant. Laemmle spotted his potential right away, and Wyler was directing by age 23. His silent film forte was Westerns, but sound liberated him artistically, and soon he flourished in dramas, comedies, and romances. From there, it was straight up for Wyler and into the pantheon of Hollywood's all-time greatest directors.

Wyler's output of classics is unmatched, and the urge to recite lists and hyperbolize is irresistible. The following are a few of his titles not featured in this month's tribute. Classic film buffs will recognize the magnitude of excellence here: These Three, Come and Get It, Jezebel, The Letter, Mrs. Miniver, The Memphis Belle, The Heiress, Detective Story, Roman Holiday, Friendly Persuasion, The Big Country, Ben-Hur, The Collector, and Funny Girl.

What made Wyler so good? The short answer is he was a perfectionist, and kept a close eye on every aspect of production. He was a subtle master, not prone to lavish directorial trickery. His gifts for storytelling, visual compositions, pacing, and dramatic conflict were superb. He knew to surround himself with the best in the business – producer Samuel Goldwyn, cinematographer Gregg Toland, and editor Daniel Mandell, among others.

Above all, Wyler was an actor's director. He directed many of the biggest stars for several decades, from Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis to Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, Audrey Hepburn, and Barbra Streisand. He was known for multiple takes, following each with a simple, "Let's do it again." He would not readily articulate his wishes, allowing the actors to grow in their roles using their own creative powers. If his method drove them crazy ("Why don't you tell me when I'm good?" was the typical query on a Wyler set), there is no arguing the results. Wyler directed a never surpassed thirty-six Oscar nominated performances, with fourteen of them winning.

Actors spoke reverently of "Willie," grateful for the performances he drew out of them. And, like many great artists, he could be wry and plainspoken. Keep it simple, he believed. He was asked about the secret of his phenomenal success. "I have a theory," he replied. "Not to bore the audience. That's a good theory."

April 9 – Dodsworth (1936) – 101 minutes

Though now ranked among the best American films of the 1930s, Dodsworth did merely okay business on its initial run. It didn't perform to expectations set by producer Sam Goldwyn. His deep investment in the film is evidenced by four (!) mentions of his name in the opening credits. He was a highly controlling producer, but he trusted Wyler and gave him fair autonomy. In typical pithy fashion, Wyler summed up their relationship as "Fruitful, yes. Harmonious, not always."

Over the years, Dodsworth fell into neglect and obscurity. When it was reassessed decades later, film lovers took notice. Here was something on screen of genuine maturity on a subject unusual for American movies: the growing irreconcilable differences of a married couple in middle age. Sam Dodsworth, founder and president of Dodsworth Motors, decides to retire and take a European holiday with his wife Fran. She is openly terrified of life passing her by, and bristles at the confinement of provincial America. Even before their ship docks in England, the Dodsworths are drifting apart, with outside flirtations getting ever more serious.

Typical of Wyler-Goldwyn productions, Dodsworth shines in every department. It won an Oscar for Art Direction, and was nominated in six other categories, including Best Director for Wyler. Based on a 1929 novel by Sinclair Lewis, it was written for the stage by Sidney Howard before he adapted it to film. The screenplay possesses an extraordinary commitment to marital ennui and dissatisfaction, while also commenting on the naiveté of the American nouveau riche and its romanticizing of European gentry.

Dodsworth is yet another sterling example of Wyler's great facility with actors. Walter Huston is the embodiment of Sam, proudly self-made and folksy, but nobody's fool. Ruth Chatterton, who clashed on set with Wyler, took Fran right to the edge in a bold and raw-nerved performance. The production was underway while costar Mary Astor was embroiled in a headline grabbing divorce. Dodsworth was her salvation. She declared her character, a divorced American expatriate in Italy, the favorite of her entire career.

We will be viewing films on Kanopy and gathering online for a Popcorn Pop-Up Salon! All you will need is either a Mechanic’s Institute library card, or a San Francisco Public Library card, which will give you access to Kanopy and its treasure trove of movies. Make a reservation as usual via Eventbrite and watch the film on Kanopy at your leisure. You will receive a link to the Friday night CinemaLit salon on zoom two days in advance. On the night of the salon follow the link to Zoom. Matthew Kennedy will be here to share his insights, and listen to yours.

Mechanics’ Institute members can now sign up for FREE access to Kanopy, a wonderful film streaming service. To sign up:

1. Click on the link below

https://milibrary.kanopy.com/ 

2. Click on the large orange login button that reads, “Log in to milibrary.”

3: Enter the 14-digit bar code from your MI Library card

4: Set up your account following Kanopy’s instructions, including your email and a password.

5: Kanopy will send verification to your email address.

You’ll be able to choose from a wonderful selection of films, including classics, pre-code, foreign films, and documentaries, including the films we’ve scheduled this month for CinemaLit.

If you are not a Mechanics’ Institute member, consider membership and click here to join online:

https://www.milibrary.org/join

Or, you can check with your public library to see if they are Kanopy members. If so, you may use your public library card to set up a Kanopy account.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Mechanics' Institute, Zoom, San Francisco, United States