Written on the Wind (1956)

Star Rating: 2
Length of Film: 99 minutes
Director: Douglas Sirk
Cast: Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone, Robert J. Wilke, Edward Platt, Harry Shannon, John Larch, Joseph Granby, Roy Glenn, Sam, Maidie Norman, William Schallert, Joanne Jordan
Oscar: Dorothy Malone (actress in support role)
Oscar Nomination: Robert Stack (actor in support role), Victor Young, Sammy Cahn (song)

Rock Hudson

Mitch Wayne (Rock Hudson) and Kyle Hadley (Robert Stack) are best friends. Mitch meets the lovely Lucy Moore (Lauren Bacall), but it stolen right underneath his feet by Kyle, an heir to a big oil company. He flies Lucy to an exotic location, and gives her a suite with a closet filled with clothes, and a vanity filled with make up and perfume. He gives her an hour to get ready, and she ends up leaving, being overwhelmed by Kyle's intensity. He reaches her before she departs. They get married, and Mitch keeps to himself his feelings for Lucy.



Lauren Bacall



Joan Allen. They could be twins! Look at the resemblance.

Kyle's wild and crazy sister, Marylee (Dorothy Malone) enters the pictures. She's the one that picks guys up at the gas station and takes him back to a motel. She's also the one who's been in love with Mitch since childhood. Their initials are engraved in a tree. She's gorgeous, and usually gets what she wants, but with Mitch, she doesn't. It drives her crazy, because she knows Mitch is in love with her sister-in-law, Lucy. Marylee informs her brother that she has noticed a close connection between his best friend and wife. Tells him to keep a lose eye on them.

After their one anniversary, Lucy and Kyle start trying to have a baby, having troubles, they go to the doctor, and Kyle gets bad news, saying that he's the problem, and they'll never be able to conceive. He starts heavily drinking, and Mitch and Lucy have to take care of him. Lucy confides in her husband, searching for what's wrong, and he won't tell her. One evening at dinner, Lucy has news to tell him that she's pregnant. He of course, takes it that she got pregnant from Mitch, and not from him since the doctor told him it wasn't possible.





Shit hits the fan, there's a gun involved, a killing, and a courtroom scene. I will tell you this, the ending reminded me a lot like Casablanca. They loved someone so much, that they let them go, to be happy, even though it's them, who isn't.

There's nothing special about this movies, yes...there's drama, but it's really slow. I wish there would've been more seduction from Marylee, and a little more flirtation between Mitch and Lucy. Robert Stack did a great job being a drunk. Like always, this is just my opinion, you can take it or leave it, and make up your own mind. Happy viewing!!!!