De corazón a corazón

"Blossoms in the Dust" is a biographical message movie about the plight of illegitimate children in the early 20th century and the stigma they faced from the get go because of the sins of their parents.

This film might as well have been called "The Greer Garson Show," because it is all about her. She plays Edna Gladney, a woman who made a crusade of finding loving adoptive homes for outcasts. She's lovely and committed in the role, and earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for it. I believe this was the first time she was paired with Walter Pidgeon, and he's pretty good too as a cocky Texan who charms her and then marries her, but he very definitely stands in Garson's shadow for most of the film.

Cedric Gibbons, Urie McCleary, and Edwin B. Willis won the Oscar for their color art direction, and this is one of the rare films from the early days of Technicolor that looks gorgeous rather than garish. The film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Color Cinematography.

Grade: B+

Blossoms in the Dust is a Excellent Powerful Moving True Story Drama. As others have noted--since it is a true story film--this is an added plus. One reason to see this film alone is Greer Garson. Her acting is superb. She is one of my all time favorite actress's of yesteryear. Walter Pidgeon is wonderful also. Some others that have commented on this film have said that it was fine but their one negative was that the phrase "Darling" was used to much. Yes this is true--but hey folks this was a very common popular word used a lot in the 30's & 40" films.-No big deal--at least it is clean & for all family member's. This great story is basically about Edna-played by Garson who marries Sam-played by Pidgeon-an operator of a wheat mill. They have a son who is killed when he is young. Edna discovers by chance how the law treats children who are without parents & decides to do something about it. She opens a home for foundlings & orphans & begins to place children in good homes-despite the opposition of conservative citizens-narrow minded back them of this subject matter-who would condemn illegitimate children being born out of wedlock. She them fights for them through the court. This is a great classic film.

Edna Gladney was a true inspiration, very ahead of her time and a pioneering figure in the adoption and nursery care field, with a great story worth telling. 'Blossoms in the Dust' is very notable for being the first of eight pairings with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, both fine actors with a legendary partnership at the time. Mervyn LeRoy did do his fair share of great films, especially 'Random Harvest', 'Gold Diggers of 1933' and 'Waterloo Bridge'.

'Blossoms in the Dust' is a beautifully made, beautifully acted and intelligently written film. It is not perfect, but it manages to make the subject accessible, inspiring and worth investing in, at the time where biopic-like films could be too dry and conventional. 'Blossoms in the Dust' also does very well in showing how great a woman in her field Gladney was, while still making her a real person/character and not just an icon. While LeRoy and Pidgeon did even better work than this, Garson's role here for me is one of her best.

It is a shame that the early tragedies weren't dwelled upon enough, near glossed over and too come and go. It is good that the film didn't want to be too serious, but the early tragedies in my mind are crucial to how Gladney came to be the way she became and it would have provided even more depth.

Maybe there could have been fewer characters, figuring out who was who with the children was not always easy.

However, 'Blossoms in the Dust' is a gorgeous looking film, espeically the sumptuous interiors and the Technicolor which is the epitome of first rate. The music is stirring and richly orchestrated, without being excessively melodramatic. LeRoy directs with utmost professionalism and class throughout and never lets things get dull or dry. The acting is very good, while the supporting cast are all dependable with Felix Bressart and dignified Marsha Hunt standouts Pidgeon and especially Garson make more memorable impressions. Pidgeon is a charming presence but this is Garson's film, a nuanced and bold performance that never rings false and wholly successful in making Gladney come over as a real person and not a caricature.

The script is intelligent and sincere, that climactic speech is uplifting and makes one want to stand up and cheer but it is also a tear-jerker. The truly inspirational line "there are no illegitimate children. There are only illegitimate parents" is a line for the ages. The story is always engaging and beautifully told, it has such a warm heart and upbeat quality, while also being very moving without being over-sentimental and compassionately respectful to Gladney, her trials and her achievements. It is not an easy subject to make interesting if one has no prior knowledge about Gladney and her pioneering work, but her story is told accessibly and being someone who has had to overcome a lot it inspired me greatly. It warmed my heart and moved me too, especially later on.

Concluding, very, very good and blossoms in its beauty. 8/10.

Review Date 1/15/2018

PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.

Now Someone keeps reporting my reviews. I guess they are jealous because I do tell the truth. I want to point out that I never make snide remarks about actors weight or real life sexual orientation. If there acting is terrible or limited "I talk about that". If a story is bad "I will mention that" So why am I being "picked on"? IMDB? When one of my reviews gets deleted IMDB will not even tell me what someone found offensive. Well on to this review.

I have never herd of this film it was part of 4 DVD pack of what Warner Brothers Stated as " Four Holiday Classic Films".

Well if it was never in the pack I would never would have watched it. I think Warner Brothers thinks this film qualifies as a "Christmas Movie" because the first scene and last ends on "Christmas". Truth be told both scenes together are no more then about 10% of the screen time. he story is a highly fictionalized telling of the story of Edna Gladney, an early advocate for the rights of illegitimate children in Texas.

Edna Kahly (Greer Garson) and her adopted sister, Charlotte (Marsha Hunt), are to be married. But, when Charlotte's mother-in-law-to-be discovers that Charlotte was a foundling, she declares the wedding must not occur, and Charlotte kills herself from shame. Meanwhile, Edna falls for a brash cashier, Sam Gladney, at the bank, and eventually marries him and moves with him to his home state of Texas.

Sam Gladney has a flour mill in Sherman, Texas, and at first the couple has an idyllic life, though after a difficult delivery Sam is told Edna must have no more children. Several years later, their son dies, and Sam's effort to ease the pain she still endures by trying to get her to adopt a foundling fails. But the little girl's story touches Edna's heart, and she starts a day care center for the children of working women.

The film is good not great but it is highly enjoyable. It is also a study on how this country treated children who came into this world with a single mother. It also shows how adoption was looked down upon. Very sad.

Now what is great about this film is that it does keep you glued. It also shows a young girl becoming a full fledged woman who takes on the government and forces them to look at what labels do to people and how labels follow you from cradle to grave.

Not for everyone. Most people under 40 might get bored. Adults who like to see a story unfold will be in for a treat.

Well worth watching!

"There are no illegitimate children, only illegitimate parents" what a great line. Greer Garson is wonderful in this movie. She really does a great job portraying Edna Gladney. Living in Fort Worth, were Edna Gladney's home is still in operation, and working in the Court house, this movie really made an impact on me. I have seen old adoption records actually signed by Edna Gladney. What a wonderful lady - she changed the world! What a wonderful movie - get it and watch it, you'll love it!