Mrs. Parkington 1944

     This film is based on a book by Louis Bromfield first published in 1942.  Mrs. Parkington recounts the story of her life.  She had humble beginnings as a hotel maid in frontier Nevada.  Mine owner and financier Augustus Parkington swept off her feet and they married.  They moved to New York and he establishes her as society woman.  He makes their home among the wealthiest of New York’s high society.  Mrs. Parkington guides us in flashbacks through the rises and falls of the family fortunes.

     Greer Garson ages from a young lady to a family matriarch in her 80’s.  Garson and Pidgeon have good chemistry and Agnes Moorehead is very good in her role.  She speaks with a French accent?  There are very elaborate costumes and the story goes from tragic to tremendous.  4* (I really liked this movie) 

124 min, Drama directed by Tay Garnett with Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Edward Arnold, Agnes Moorehead, Cecil Kellaway, Gladys Cooper, Frances Rafferty, Tom Drake, Peter Lawford, Dan Duryea, Hugh Marlowe, Selena Royle, Fortunio Bonanova, Lee Patrick.

Note:  Imdb 7.1 out of 10, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 72 reviews, rotten Tomatoes 77% audience, Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, TCM Leonard Maltin 2.5* out of 4* average user rating 5*.

Goodreads gives the book 3.58 out of 5* with 152 ratings and 19 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed on Morrison Ranch, Agoura; MGM Studios, Culver City, California.  In a move unusual for a film even today, it was shot in chronological order.  Greer Garson was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar but she lost to Ingrid Bergman for her role in Gaslight.  Release prints in Europe included characters not in the American version?  Hugo Haas played Edward, Prince of Wales and Tala Birell appeared as a countess.  There is a mistake in the scene where the newlywed couple arrive at the hotel in New York. The chambermaid leaves the room twice?