Saturday's Children

Director: Vincent Sherman Vincent Sherman

Overview

This third film version of Maxwell Anderson's play Saturday's Children stars Claude Rains as the impecunious but proud father of a large brood. Rains' daughter Anne Shirley marries idealistic John Garfield, a would-be inventor who works for Shirley's father. Feeling that he's been tricked into marriage, Garfield gives every indication of turning out to be as much "failure" as Rains. Only when Garfield and Shirley are on the verge of breaking up do they realize that material gain is not the only barometer of success in life. Previous filmizations of this story include Saturday's Children (29), starring Corinne Griffith, and Maybe It's Love (35), costarring Ross Alexander and Gloria Stuart.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/06/2014
UPC:	0888574057008
Original Release:	1940
Source:	Warner Brothers
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:42:00
Sales rank:	47,694

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Garfield	Rims Rosson
Anne Shirley	Bobby Halevy
Claude Rains	Mr. Halevy
Lee Patrick	Florrie Sands
George Tobias	Herbie Smith
Roscoe Karns	Willie Sands
Dennis Moore	Gertrude Mills,Gertrude Mills
Elisabeth Risdon	Mrs. Halevy,Mrs. Halevy
Berton Churchill	Mr. Norman
Tom D'Andrea	Cab Driver
John Qualen	1st carpenter
Tom Dugan	2nd carpenter
John Ridgely	Mr. MacReady
Margot Stevenson	Mrs. MacReady
Claude Wisberg	Boy
Jack Mower	Mac
Glen Cavender	Elevator operator
Gus Glassmire	Joe
Frank Faylen	Cabbie
Nell O'Day	Girl
Creighton Hale	Mailman
Maris Wrixon	Nurse
Lucille Fairbanks	Nurse
Paul Panzer	Nightwatchman
Sam Flint	Doctor
Adolph Deutsch	Composer

Technical Credits

Philip Epstein

Henry Blanke	Producer
Vincent Sherman	Director
Philip Epstein	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Robert Burks	Special Effects
Jack Warner	Producer
Hal Wallis	Executive Producer
C.A. Riggs	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Originally a play starring Humphrey Bogart, Saturday's Children was filmed twice before this version. The Epstein Brothers have done a commendable job of adapting and improving upon the Maxwell Anderson original. While there's still a certain amount of "sudsiness" to the screenplay and dialogue, and while some of the structure is a bit too pat and schematic, the story is involving and the characters have an undeniable appeal and attraction. Vincent Sherman's direction is smooth, if a trifle slick in places, and keeps the story moving without seeming rushed and hurried. The film's biggest asset, however, is its cast. Claude Rains turns in a sterling performance, creating a sympathetic character out of the plodding and often bumbling father, and Anne Shirley (in a role turned down by Olivia de Havilland) is touching and endearing. John Garfield is especially fine, taking a character that could come across as annoying and whiny and making him likable without betraying his more unattractive qualities; his shyness in particular becomes endearing. Saturday sometimes plays rather shamelessly with the viewer's emotions, but it somehow does so in an inoffensive way.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler