Classic Movie Friday!

All This, And Heaven Too (1940)

Bette Davis   Charles Boyer   Jeffrey Lynn  Barbara O’Neil

Virginia Weidler   June Lockhart   Ann E. Todd   Richard Nichols

When the governess, Henriette Deluzy-Desportes (Bette Davis) arrives at the home of the Duc de Praslin (Charles Boyer) and Duchesse de Praslin (Barbara O’Neil), their marriage is already deeply troubled. The Duchesse is irrational, mentally ill and immediately jealous of Henriette. She incurs the wrath of the Duchesse again and again. Henriette bonds with the children and loves them as her own. When little Reynald (Richard Nicols) becomes seriously ill, the governess saves his life. The Duc is forever grateful to her, however, the Duchesse continues to be filled with wrath toward Henriette. Eventually, the Duchesse believes Henriette is the Duc’s mistress and fires her. Tragedy strikes the family and Henriette faces the hardest time of her life.

This is a good movie, however, the story is tragic. Henriette is a warm-hearted person and she loves children. However, the Duchesse is horrible and neglects her children, while suffocating the Duc. Before she is fired, Henriette is in a difficult position, to say the least. She’s between a rock and a hard place. She wants to leave her position, but she loves the children and has bonded with them. After tragedy strikes the family, Henriette has one friend, Henry (Jeffrey Lynn). He is a new minister. At the beginning of the film, he meets her while she is traveling to the Duc’s home to become the governess. The ending of the film was sweet.

Enjoy!