Product Details

• Actors: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Edward Arnold, Agnes Moorehead, Cecil Kellaway
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 124 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302787033
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,746 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE ORIGINAL "MISS ELLIE"?, August 24, 2000

By 

CHUCK WEST - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mrs. Parkington [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"MRS. PARKINGTON," the MGM film adaptation of the 1943 Louis Bromfeld novel of the same name is one of Greer Garson's better films. The story unfolds, in flashback, as the elderly Mrs. Parkington reminisces on Christmas Eve, about her life, love, family, and future. It's amazing how MGM could edit a multi-generational epic into 2 hours without diminishing the plot to a synopsis. Imagine squeezing the entire 14 seasons of the TV series "DALLAS" into a 2-hour film, as recalled by Miss Ellie on a Christmas Eve, and you pretty much have MGM's "Mrs. Parkington." Of course, with Greer Garson being the biggest box office draw of the 1940's, and Louis B. Mayer's prize star, you can expect the grand MGM treatment (exquisite black and white cinematography, period costume design, exterior and interior set design, makeup, crystal chandeliers, statuary, antiques, French-stripe wallpaper, "the whole nine yards," as it were...). But the plot, starting in 19th-century Nevada, ending in 20th-century Manhattan, is the core of the film. The storyline runs the epic trail of hardship, pain, struggle, success, reflection, dilemma, and ultimate grand choice which will determine the future. It's all there. It's just more fun to watch when glossed over in the signature MGM manner. Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon once again make for one of the better leading screen "couples" of film's "golden era," right up there with couples like "Crawford and Gable," or "Tracy and Hepburn." In the end, Mrs. Parkington proves to be the "iron fist in the velvet glove." Watching her life will show the audience how life experience evolved her to such inner strength and wisdom, as it does with (hopefully) most people. Due to the story, "MRS. PARKINGTON" is a great film for Christmas Eve....or any eve, for that matter....

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon together again, January 30, 2003

By 

Simon Davis (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mrs. Parkington [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Mrs. Parkington" was MGM's most expensive film produced in 1944 and indeed at this time Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon warranted the lavish expenditure as they were the most popular couple in films after their smashing sucesses in "Blossoms In The Dust", "Madame Curie", and of course the unforgettable "Mrs Miniver". Here we see Greer Garson playing another "Mrs" however Susie Parkington is very different to the stoic Mrs Miniver of the 1942 film.

Greer Garson was at first very reluctant to take on such an ambitious period piece again so soon after her involvement in the above mentioned films. She was desperate to try a comic role where she could show off her comedy timing learnt in her years of theatre work in London. Louis B. Mayer however saw her as the refined ladylike character of period dramas or sentimental contemporary pieces like "Mrs. Miniver". Indeed his judgement was spot on here as these roles suited Greer Garson to a tee despite her relutance to play them. "Mrs. Parkington" adapted from the novel by Louis Bromfeld of the previous year, contains a sprawling story set over a long period of time and sees Garson age from a young girl who helps her mother run a boarding house in a mining town to being a Grand Dowager of over eighty presiding over the financial and moral decay of her sprawling offspring. The story begins on Christmas Eve where the eighty seven year old widowed Susie Parkington is confronted by a family crisis when her grandson Amory Stilham (Edward Arnold) is in danger of being convicted for using funds illegally and is threatened with a jail sentence. During this evening Susie reflects on her whole life and we are taken back to the time when she first met her husband Maj. Gus Parkington and how her life took its upwardly mobile direction to the heights of New York wealth and success. Along the way we are treated to another beautiful acting experience courtesy of Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. The screen chemistry here is wonderful to behold but the characters they are playing here are very different to their work as the Minivers. Walter Pidgeon's character in particular is out of a much harder mould than his normally reserved Gentlemenly persona. Not the devoted husband here he is a bit of a scoundrel with a roving eye and a temper. The scene where the Parkington's invite all of New York society to a lavish dinner party and no one turns up is quite disturbing with Maj. Parkington getting all of the staff to join in on the feast in his fury. Greer Garson had never had to age so much in any of her previous films and while the makeup is commendable she really is more convincing as the younger Susie who is in awe of Gus's lifestyle and sophisticated friends. Nevertheless in the scenes of the present on Christmas Eve she lends a commanding presence in the family scenes.

"Mrs. Parkington" supplies a wonderful supporting cast, first and foremost the gifted Agnes Moorehead plays Susie's best friend and support Baroness Aspasia Conti who also happens to be an old beau of Gus. Moorehead is superb as the world weary but kind hearted support for Susie and she received an Academy Award nomination for his role. Edward Arnold shines in the role of the good for nothing Amory and Gladys Cooper and Frances Rafferty round out the family cast as the vicious and selfishly decadent members of Susie's clan. Veteran character actor Cecil Kellaway has a small but memorable role as the Prince of Wales who Susie meets but fails to recognise in a very comic scene at a country hunt when she has come to England to "reclaim" her straying husband.

Being MGM's biggest production that year inevitably the film boasts superb production values. Cedric Gibbons excels yet again in his interior design with the Parkington mansion being like something out of this world. The film displays beautiful black and white photography, costumes that are lavish but also historically accurate and an overall polish to be expected from MGM in its prime. Considering the wartime restrictions during this it is amazing how lavish this film was however costs were cut in nonobvious ways one instance being at the famous dinner party where all the displayed food on the tables was in actual fact cardboard cutouts!!

"Mrs Parkington" is yet another in the long line of Garson/Pidgeon accomplishments that never fail to entertain audiences. Like the Powell/Loy, Gable/Crawford teamings there is a special magic between them that made their work together in whatever roles so special. Here is no exception and for a story dealing with family turmoil, greed and regret it cannot be bettered. Highly recommended viewing.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A portrait of rise and fall!, December 20, 2005

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mrs. Parkington [VHS] (VHS Tape)

From a mining town of Nevada, a poor girl makes her dreams come true when a multi millionaire wed her. The process of rise of his fortune will suffer along the road of certain infidelities here and there and also certain financial tricks.

She will work out as the opposite side of the balance and will lead him to secure port. But his sudden death will become of her one of the richest widows and she will have to face the inheritors whose main features are signed by the stinginess, selfishness, cowardice, with visible lack of grandness vision and undertaking spirit.

In this sense the final decision will have to do with her ancestral codes, and start all over again, if it' s necessary.

The script is admirable, the cast is superb and the handle work is glorious, watch the framing process in interiors. Greer Carson has been always one of my three favorite eternal beloved actresses ever - being until this date - the only one who has been nominated five consecutive times - from 1941 to 1945 - (Elizabeth Taylor got it four consecutive times and Meryl Streep, three times), a record hard to beat and obviously equal. Maybe this one and The postman always rings twice be the supreme works of Ty Garret.

Admirable ending sequence