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:

Accidental Shooting | Fall Down Stairs | Wedding Anniversary | Gun Under Pillow | Told In Flashback

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)
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)
• 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:

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

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Title song is sung by The Four Aces. The song is featured very prominently, and the group is fully credited.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In a few shots over the shoulders of Jasper and Lucy Hadley in Jasper's office we can see out the windows the little smudge pots making the smoke in the "oilfields" outside.

Quotes:

Marylee Hadley: That was no lady. That was your wife.
Kyle Hadley: Where are they going?
Marylee Hadley: I don't know. Where would you take your best friends wife?
Kyle Hadley: You're a real sweet kid.
Marylee Hadley: Now, be nice to me brother. One morning, we'll wake up and be all alone together.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

Soundtrack:

WRITTEN ON THE WIND

Soap Opera or Social Commentary?

To me this just comes off as a soap opera. I guess any depiction of profligate people can be considered "social commentary." But in the final analysis, I simply don't care how you characterize this film. None of the characters are very likable or engaging. I felt no chemistry between Hudson and Bacall. If there is a love story here, it is lost in the malaise. And despite the twist ending provided by a complete and immediate (and therefore, incomprehensible) reversal by Dorothy Maguire on the witness stand, the story is insufficient to hold my interest. No matter how much Freudian symbolism and psychology are throw in, this story is sleazy, melodramatic and trite.

Rock Hudson is nobly wooden. This is Lauren Bacall's least engaging role and one of her poorest performances. Robert Stack and Dorothy Maguire deliver more inspired performances, but her character is vile, and his is pathetic. Robert Keith, as the loving, out-of-touch father of two miscreant adult children, is the most sympathetic character. Most interesting of all, however, is the severe-looking Robert Wilke in a small role as the bar owner. He is best remembered as a nasty henchman in countless Westerns, but here is an honest, likable fellow.

I take my social commentary with an interesting, engaging story and a few likable characters, thank you.