Product Details

• Actors: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Felix Bressart, Marsha Hunt, Ottola Nesmith
• Directors: Mervyn LeRoy
• Format: NTSC, Color
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001L0XCTY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,771 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

They are shunned, these babies of unmarried mothers - ignored, taunted, labeled "creatures of shame." But to Edna Gladney (Greer Garson), founder of the Texas Children's Home and Aid Society, every abandoned child deserves the miracle of a loving home. Blossoms in the Dust is the heartfelt story of the woman who worked that miracle time and time again. In her first pairing with Walter Pidgeon, Garson imbues this real-life heroine with beauty, tenderness and will. Every child has a right to be loved. Edna's devotion to that right echoes today as she declares, "There are no illegitimate babies... only illegitimate parents."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fictional account of Edna Browning Kahly Gladney, June 10, 2009

By 

Anne "My Viewpoint" (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blossoms in the Dust (1941) (DVD)

This is a movie based somewhat loosely on Edna Browning Kahly Gladney, who successfully lobbied the Texas Legislature to take the word "illegitimate" off of birth certificates. She also wanted to ensure adopted children the same inheritance rights of other children and better living conditions for all diadvantged children in the states care. This is a wonderful, mainly fictional movie that tells the story of a woman courageous enough to take on the state of Texas so that children could be adopted into homes that may not have wanted them if they knew they were "creatures of shame".

I wish more people knew the real story behind sealed adoption records so that those who want to keep them close could no longer twist Mrs. Gladney's story to suit their agenda. In the early 20th century records had to be sealed so that ALL children could have the possibility of being accepted into good, loving homes and have the same rights as other children.

Adoption records were sealed to protect children then and now if an adult adoptee wants their records they should be able to get them, unless the birth parent(s) have asked that they not be opened. Over the last eight decades medical knowledge has improved dramatically and letting adoptees have their records could potentially save their life (I speak from experience, not mine but a very special person that might be alive if they had been able to get their records before they were terminally ill. They had asked for them more than 10 years before they were diagnosed and was denied, more than once. What is so astonishing is that once they were diagnosed as terminal, they could get the records that were denied. Too little, too late, to save them; it's just wrong (IMHHO)). In keeping records sealed, states are potentially sentencing innocent people to death because they cannot get their records to see if they or their future children are at risk for anything.

I love Greer Garson and wish they would do a Greer Garson Collection and/or a Greer Garson & Walter Pidgeon Collection. She is one of my favorite actresses, I love all her movies. She was great in everything she did, but I love every movie she did with Walter Pidgeon. Unfortunately, not all of their movies are on DVD.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let the Tear Ducts Flow, November 21, 2008

By 

David Baldwin (Philadelphia,PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blossoms in the Dust (1941) (DVD)

Mawkish. Saccharine. Manipulative. This flick works. MGM had a patent on this kind of sentimental fare and "Blossoms in the Dust" is no exception. Credit director Mervyn LeRoy directing a script by Anita Loos for keeping the film palatable and grounded. It also helps that stars Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon for make believable some of the film's more preposterous elements. There won't be a dry eye in the house when you get a gander of little Tony.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars blossoms in the dust, January 23, 2009

By 

Doris M. Edwards - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blossoms in the Dust (1941) (DVD)

i have owned this movie on vhs for 15 years and i am so glad to own it on dvd. the movie is an inspiration on helping parentless childern. i enjoy the film every time i play it.