Product Details

• Actors: Bette Davis, Charles Boyer, Jeffrey Lynn, Barbara O'Neil, Virginia Weidler
• Directors: Anatole Litvak
• Writers: Casey Robinson, Rachel Field
• Producers: Anatole Litvak, David Lewis, Hal B. Wallis
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 141 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301963644
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,278 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THOSE BETTE DAVIS EYES WILL GET YOU EVERY TIME..., October 2, 2001

By 

Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: All This & Heaven Too [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Based upon Rachel Field's wonderful novel of the same name, this film is a triumph. It is a fictionalized account of a notorious true crime that shocked Paris to its core in the mid nineteenth century.

A governess, Henriette Deluzy, magnificently played by Bette Davis, returns to France, having accepted a position to teach the four children of the Duc and Duchesse De Praslin. The Duc, played with intense, restrained passion by the debonair Charles Boyer, is unhappily married to a self absorbed harpy who cares not a whit for her children, but is obsessed with her husband. Her obsession is such, that she appears to be mentally unbalanced.

When Ms. Deluzy joins the household, the Duchesse resents her children's growing fondness of her, as well as her husband's attentions to the children and the governess. Though clearly falling in love, the Duc and the governess maintain a completely platonic relationship at all times. Yet, the obsession of the Duchesse is such that she imagines the worst sort of affair is taking place right under her very nose. She is consumed by jealously and loses no time in making all in that household miserable.

Many months after Ms. Deluzy is forced to leave the household, the Duchesse is found murdered, and suspicion falls upon the Duc and the former governess. What happens to them will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. This is a beautifully acted film.

Bette Davis, the great doyenne of film and theatre, plays the governess in an uncharacteristally restrained fashion, using those famous orbs of hers to convey all the emotion that she feels but cannot express. She succeeds, brilliantly. Charles Boyer is a superb casting choice for the handsome, angst ridden Duc, saddled with a histrionic wife bent on making the entire family miserable. Barbara O'Neil, as the Duchesse, gives an over the top, but effective, performance that is a good counterfoil to that of Ms. Davis. The supporting cast is likewise excellent and contributes to the success of this marvelous screen gem.

This tragic story is brought to life under the very able direction of Anatole Litvak and rightly earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. It is a true film classic that should be seen by all who love a great movie.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bette Davis shines as in classic "forgotten" film, November 25, 1999

By 

J. Stearns (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All This & Heaven Too [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have a feeling this is one of those films that isn't as highly recognized as it should be. It was nominated for Best Picture of 1940, but in the past 60 years, very little is written or spoken about this wonderful film. It is a shame really, to think of all the great films we overlook and all the so-so films we pay too much attention to. "All This, and Heaven Too" shines as one of the greatest forgotten films of all time! Bette Davis, who is in my opinion the greatest actress in screen history, demonstrates her amazing versatility as an actress. One who is never afraid and always capable of tackling any type of role, Davis plays a vulnerable governness who is accused of killing the Duchess of France, because she is suspected of having an affair with the Duke. Her caring, compassion and loving character is portrayed vividly with an excellent supporting cast. Charles Boyer is the Duke and Barbara O'Neill gives an incredible performance as the horrendous, uncaring mother, the Duchess. "All This, and Heaven Too" is a must-see!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Headline Scandal in Old Paris, November 3, 2002

By 

James L. - See all my reviews

This review is from: All This & Heaven Too [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Bette Davis is a young governess brought in to educate and basically mother the children of the Duc and Duchesse de Praslin in Paris of the 1840's. The Duc and Duchesse are at war with each other, trying to keep the children out of it. Davis' calm manner and way with the children soon catches the eye of the doting father, Charles Boyer, leading to a love between the two that is never acted upon. The Duchesse, Barbara O'Neill, grows to resent the governess for having taken the affections of her husband and children from her. It leads to a series of dramatic events that tears the family apart. Davis is subdued and unusually controlled as the governess, a fine counterbalance to the fiery dramatics of the spurned O'Neill. Boyer is excellent as the tormented Duc, torn between duty and love. It's a long film, but Anatole Litvak's tight direction and the quality production keep the story moving along well. Although primarily melodrama, it's has aspects of mystery and social commentary woven into its plotline, all anchored by Davis quiet performance. It's one of her least known films from that era, but one worth viewing.