Product Details

• Actors: Susan Hayward, Michael Craig, Diane Baker, Edward Judd, Paul Rogers
• Directors: Daniel Petrie
• Writers: Bertram Bloch, George Emerson Brewer Jr., Jessamyn West, Joseph Hayes
• Producers: Denis Holt, Lawrence Turman, Stuart Millar
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM/UA Home Video
• VHS Release Date: March 7, 1994
• Run Time: 97 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302946549
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,616 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An underappreciated Hayward drama, October 10, 2000

By 

David J. Kucharski (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stolen Hours [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When STOLEN HOURS was released in 1963, the movie garnered little attention. It starred an actress, Susan Hayward, who was considered "past her prime" (it had been five years since Hayward won her Oscar for I WANT TO LIVE, which was really her final movie to get outstanding critical notices). STOLEN HOURS was filmed in England, a place where (in the early 1960s at least) only "has-beens" from Hollywood went to make movies. Plus, the film was a remake--the original version was DARK VICTORY, one of Bette Davis' best-loved and -remembered films.

This lack of attention to STOLEN HOURS is a true shame. For the film is a mature, thoughtful and touching romantic drama about a woman re-evaluating her life in the face of terminal illness.

The overall tone of STOLEN HOURS is quiet and restrained. (Some may thus feel that it suffers in comparison to the more emotionally charged DARK VICTORY.) The script is literate and serious, but with a sprinkling of gentle humor.

There are many virtues to the film. The color photography is outstanding, particularly the views of the beautiful coastal village toward the end of the film. Mort Lindsay's musical score is lovely and has some of the romantic sweep of classic Hollywood film scores. And the supporting performances are well done.

But this film truly belongs to Susan Hayward. Toward the end of her career, Hayward--like many more mature actors--tended to give performances that were broad and over-the-top (I would include her performance in I WANT TO LIVE). But here, she is remarkably controlled. She has many quiet moments that are among the finest acting scenes of her career. She seemed to truly understand the character she was playing, and responded with a performance that was Oscar-worthy (if anyone at the time had bothered to pay attention to the film).

A sad postscript: Like the character she portrays here, Hayward herself also died of a brain tumor. That fact makes viewing this film a bittersweet experience for her fans.

All in all, I recommend STOLEN HOURS as a touching romantic drama, and as a reminder of the fine acting talent of Susan Hayward.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Hayward's best..., March 13, 2003

By 

W. Pender "honuscat" (Cathedral City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stolen Hours [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though it never received critical acclaim, 'Stolen Hours' remains one of my favorites films because of its sensitivity and a shining performance by Susan Hayward. Ironically, Hayward would later die in the same fashion as her character in 'Stolen Hours'. A real tearjerker at the end, and a must-have for fans of the imcomparable Susan Hayward.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hayward! Hayward! Hayward!, January 31, 2008

By 

R. de Aquino (Brazil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stolen Hours [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this film on TV years ago and it has always remained with me. I especially remember some quiet moments towards the end, and the lovely Cornwall landscape. And, of course, the great Susan Hayward, a truly fine actress. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS FILM HAS NOT YET BEEN REALEASED ON DVD. It is indeed time for us to have a remastered, double feature DVD of BACK STREET and STOLEN HOURS on the market.