Dodsworth (1936)

Dodsworth (1936)
Dir. William Wyler
starring Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton, and Mary Astor



Watch it in its entirety here.

This film reminds me of Bergman's A Lesson In Love, Mike Nichols's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? sans Taylor & Burton's vindictiveness and Preston Sturges' The Lady Eve (mainly because the married couple in Dodsworth also travel by ship). It is in many ways a remarkably "European," film, probably even more so than Wyler's Roman Holiday, which is set entirely in Europe.

Lines like these might explain why this is one of David Mamet's favorite films:

Edith Cortright: What is this hold she has over you?
Sam Dodsworth: I've got to take care of her. A man's habits gets pretty strong in twenty years.

Fran Dodsworth: Do you think you'll ever get me out of your blood?
Sam Dodsworth: Maybe not, but love has got to stop someplace short of suicide!