Directed by Douglas Sirk (1955)
by Joseph Juhase

Douglas Sirk's film, All That Heaven Allows, is the epitome of the 1950's Hollywood melodrama. From its lush score, impassioned verbal exchanges, and moments where you can't help but roll your eyes, it hardly seems like a strong pick for a Criterion Film. However, Sirk's use of cinematography and Technicolor elevate the piece above the usual romantic fare Hollywood was churning out back then. It also stars the dreamy Rock Hudson, whose homosexuality was an open secret in Hollywood, in one of his countless heartthrob roles.