Greer's Second Greatest Performance | Mrs. Parkington

A Classic "Woman's" Picture | Mrs. Parkington | Agnes Moorehead, Walter Pidgeon

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	• Mrs. Parkington Agnes Moorehead, Walter Pidgeon Warner Bros., 2009 average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Excellent Movie, Inflated Price!

While I have never considered myself a huge Greer Garson fan, this is likely because I have not seen most of her movies. There are a few of her films that I have seen, though, that I would contend are real gems. Of course, Mrs. Miniver is one, and I have always enjoyed Madame Curie. I saw Mrs. Parkington today on TCM and I must say that I found it touching and endearing. I am sure that the morals of the day would not have been as forgiving of husband Pidgeon's philandering as Greer was, and it surprised me that the censors allowed such frank protrayals of adultery. One of the best aspects of this movie was the supporting cast, with Agnes Moorehead and Cecil Kellaway both having strong roles, and upon whom the picture pivots at certain points. Dan Duryea is his usual despicable lout in a small but tangy role as a spoiled rich boy. I think it is great that this film is available through the Warner Archives, but I would urge interested parties to check out the TCM website for a better price. When these films are first made available through the archives, the price is a little high, but after a few weeks it drops down on that site. But, if you are living the good life and are unaffected by the current economic woes, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed if you one-click it right now! This is a very entertaining and solid film with a great cast, and thought-provoking as well.

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Greer's Second Greatest Performance

After Kate Hepburn, Greer Garson is my favorite actress. After Mrs. Miniver, this is my favorite GG performance. (An my fourth favorite most watchable film)

Mrs. Parkington is a memory play. Greer is Susie Parkington, the matriarch of the Parkington family. And Pidgeon plays Major Agustus Parkington. He got his rank by shooting a Confederate Major.

It is Christmastime at the Parkington household. Susie's children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren gather for the festivities. Her favorite great granddaughter comes to her to tell that she is eloping. Susie tells her that she must meet this man before they elope. As Jane leaves, Susie remembers how she and the Major met.

Augustus Parkington is visiting his silver mine in Leaping Rock, Colorado. Susie's mother owns the town's only boarding house. Susie has an immediate attraction to the Major.

When Susie's mother is killed in a mine crash, the Major marries her (it is a little more complicated than that.) He takes her back to New York. The Major realizes that he really loves her and does not want to hurt her. So he runs to get advice from the one person that he feels he can trust, Baroness Aspasia Conti (Agnes Moorehead).

Aspaia begins to remold Susie to be the wife of "a force" in the business world.

Three years have passed and the Major has become one of the richest men in NY and Susie has become the perfect wife. For their 3rd anniversary he builds her a mansion, the problem is that the Major has Aspasia decorate the mansion. Susie has her own surprise, she announces that she is having his child.

The Major decides to throw a ball to introduce Susie into society but no one shows up after the Major accidently insults the head of society, the Commodore. As an indirect result of this Susie looses the baby. This sets in motion a revenge plot by the Major to destroy all those who snubbed them.

Time passes and their children grow up but their son Herbert is killed riding a horse. Susie goes into a year long morning and the Major runs off to England. It's upto Aspasia to get Susie back on her feet and to England to get back her man. (Cecil Kellaway makes a cameo as the Prince of Wales and almost steals the show!)

The Major dies in a racing car accident and the Susie is left with the family. Many years pass and it has not been kind to the Parkinton clan. Susie's great grandson-in-law has embezzeled from his company and the family must decide whether to spend their inheritence to bail him out. It's Gus' words that Susie remembers that makes the final decision.

This is a beautifully made made about a real relationship. Like every realationship, this one has its up and downs, its misunderstandings and in the end its a deep seeded love that rules the day.

Garson's performance perfectly matches her performance in Mrs. Miniver. As Mrs. Miniver was pure class and subtlty, Susie Parkington is all spunk. Add to this Agnes Moorehead's performance. Agnes is one of the greatest character actresses in any medium and this was her best (yes better than Endora). Both Garson and Moorehead were nominated for Oscars and Moorehead won the Golden Globe (she should have had an Oscar to match!)

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A Classic "Woman's" Picture

In the early forties, while all of the men were off at war, cinema was geared towards the female audience. Thus, the "Woman's Picture" was born. Greer Garson was certainly a genre favorite, and she delivers in this epic melodrama.

Susie (Garson) is running a boardinghouse with her mother when she meets her wealthy husband Major Parkington. Walter Pidgeon plays the rugged Major who is divided between his love for Susie and his sometimes warped since of masculine duty. It is a marriage of many ups and downs, but Susie always manages to have the upper hand.

Featuring Academy Award nominated performances by Garson and Agnes Moorehead, this film is certainly entertaining. Although it pales in comparison to other "woman's pictures" such as "Now Voyager" or "Mildred Pierce," this film has its moments and is a treat to watch.

The DVD itself is not magical, but I'm just grateful that it's finally out on DVD. There are no subtitles, nor any special features except for the original trailer. However, the film itself seems to be in great shape. The picture is clear and all sound is audible.

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"Mrs. Parkington", starring Garson and Pidgeon, what a classic.

Many People don't no about this great film from 1944, which again teamed Greer Garson and Walter Pigeon, However, Many people are very familiar with the film they made in 1942 "Mrs. Miniver". Garson and Pidgeon made 9 films together, and everyone is flawless. I particularly love "Mrs. Parkington", even more so than any others they made together for the simple reason that Greer Garson's performance was AMAZING she aged from a young girl into an 84 year old family matriarch. If you have not seen this film which also highlights other very talented actors and actresses such as, Agnes Moorehead, Edward Arnold, Peter Lawford, Cecil Kellaway, and the great Gladys Cooper, Then I would suggest you buy this magnificent VHS and Pray that soon it will get a DVD release. Also, after seeing this movie I bought the book by Louis Bromfield "Mrs. Parkington", and after reading it I realized that the film had left nearly nothing out, everything is in the film. (If you would like to see this film released on DVD got to this link below, it is a link to TCM.

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/processors/voteForm.jsp?title=Mrs.%20Parkington&stid=3156

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"Mrs. Parkington"

This was one of the great movies of the 1940's, and very good movie, with a host of actors of the early years of movies.

One day in 1872, Susie Graham is making beds at her mother's Leaping Rock, Nevada, boarding house. The next day, she's a millionaire's wife. That millionaire is Major Augustus Parkington, a dashing financial buccaneer who sweeps Susie away to a 5th Avenue mansion and a life of privilege and power.

Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon mark the fourth of their eight beloved film pairings with this grand chronicle (featuring sharp Oscar?-nominated* performances from Garson and Agnes Moorehead) that begins with Susie as the 84-year-old family matriarch and flashes back to decades of passion, breakups, reconciliations, losses, laughs, schemes and sacrifices. Epic romance, epic adventure: Mrs. Parkington invites you to share her remarkable life.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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