Joan Crawford and Margaret Sullavan lead the cast of The Shining Hour in MGM’s screen adaptation of the 1934 Broadway play.

The film received a Blu-ray upgrade last June by way of the Warner Archive Collection. The 76-minute film is presented in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio with side mattes and a DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono audio track.

After Joan Crawford watched Keith Winter’s stage play, the actress approached Louis B. Mayer about starring in a film adaptation. MGM had made earlier plans to adapt the play in 1935 as a vehicle for Irving Thalberg’s wife, Norma Shearer. By this time, those plans fell through, leaving the door open for Crawford to step up to bat. Crawford handpicked both Sullavan and Fay Bainter to co-star as her character’s sisters-in-law in The Shining Hour, much to Mayer’s dismay. Mayer feared that they would still the film from her. Interestingly enough, Bainter would receive two Oscar nominations in 1938, winning for Jezebel.

Olivia Riley (Joan Crawford) is growing tired of working as a nightclub dancer in New York City. She meets Harry Linden (Melvyn Douglas) and follows him to Wisconsin where they are to be married. Naturally, there’s a love triangle including Harry’s brother, David (Robert Young). Even though Olivia has interests in both men, she’s become friendly with David’s wife, Judy (Margaret Sullavan). That Olivia and Judy have a blossoming friendship adds another layer of complications to The Shining Hour. Meanwhile, Henry and David’s older sister, Hannah (Fay Bainter), is clearly not a fan.

It’s a full house at first until Olivia and Henry finally move out. Had they not done so, who knows just how much tension there would be between them. But even after moving, there’s clearly tension in the air. Everything leads up to a climactic fiery rescue where Olivia saves Judy from the flames. It’s this moment of sacrifice where Judy realizes she loves her husband. Olivia leaves the farm and while Henry doesn’t initially follow, he finally does so after Hannah comes clean about starting the fire.

Much like Katharine Hepburn, Crawford had been considered to be “box office poison.” Despite this, MGM had enough faith in the actress, signing her to a new five-year contract. Some films were received well but audiences mostly stayed away. As such, their relationship came to an end in 1943.

Frank Borzage has an excellent grasp on the direction of The Shining Hour as the filmmaker is able to find the right mix of melodrama and emotion. Borzage would work with Sullvan for the fourth time on The Mortal Storm. Interestingly enough, this is the only film of theirs that doesn’t deal with Nazism!

Bonus Features

• Audio only vintage M-G-M radio program GOOD NEWS OF 1939 with scenes from THE SHINING HOUR
• Classic cartoons
  • LOVE AND CURSES
  • THE SNEEZING WEASEL
• Original Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR: Frank Borzage
SCREENWRITERS: Jane Murfin and Ogden Nash
CAST: Joan Crawford, Margaret Sullavan, Robert Young, Melvyn Douglas, Fay Bainter

MGM released The Shining Hour in theaters on November 18, 1938. Grade: 3.5/5

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