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The Shining Hour

Play trailer Poster for The Shining Hour 1938,  1h 16m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist - - 3 Reviews Tomatometer 39% 50+ Ratings Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Sick of her life in New York City, nightclub dancer Olivia Riley (Joan Crawford) moves to Wisconsin to marry Henry Linden (Melvyn Douglas), a well-to-do farmer. Complications arise when Olivia and Henry's brother, David (Robert Young), become deeply attracted to each another. David does his best to hide his feelings for Olivia from Henry, but when their coldhearted sister, Hannah (Fay Bainter), learns about the pair's clandestine bond, she'll stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Critics Reviews

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Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Feb 12, 2025
3.5/5
Frank Borzage has an excellent grasp on the direction of The Shining Hour as the filmmaker is able to find the right mix of melodrama and emotion. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jul 22, 2024
2.5/4
The soap suds rise sky-high in this melodrama. Go to Full Review
Josephine O'Neill Daily Telegraph (Australia) Oct 14, 2020
Worth seeing, for... Margaret Sullavan's heart-catching performance, and those swooningly. superb clothes. Otherwise "The Shining Hour" is one of those suffocating, sophisticated dramas in which people will change partners and talk about their emotions. Go to Full Review
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The Shining Hour

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Frank Borzage

Director

Joan Crawford

Olivia Riley

Margaret Sullavan

Judy Linden

Robert Young

David Linden

Melvyn Douglas

Henry Linden

Fay Bainter

Hannah Linden

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The Shining Hour

The Shining Hour (1938) The Shining Hour (1938) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Sick of her life in New York City, nightclub dancer Olivia Riley (Joan Crawford) moves to Wisconsin to marry Henry Linden (Melvyn Douglas), a well-to-do farmer. Complications arise when Olivia and Henry's brother, David (Robert Young), become deeply attracted to each another. David does his best to hide his feelings for Olivia from Henry, but when their coldhearted sister, Hannah (Fay Bainter), learns about the pair's clandestine bond, she'll stop at nothing to keep them apart.
Director
Frank Borzage
Producer
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 1938, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 23, 2009
Runtime
1h 16m
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