Blossoms in the Dust

Synopsis: Edna marries Texan Sam Gladney, operator of a wheat mill. Edna discovers by chance how the law treats children who are without parents and decides to do something about it. She opens a home for foundlings and orphans and begins to place children in good homes, despite the opposition of "conservative" citizens, who would condemn illegitimate children for being born out of wedlock. Eventually Edna leads a fight in the Texas legislature to remove the stigma of illegitimacy from birth records in that state, while continuing to be an advocate for homeless children.
Director(s): Mervyn LeRoy
Production: WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
  Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.0
Rotten Tomatoes:
25%
APPROVED
Year:
1941
99 min
158 Views


Oh, that really looks

very nice, Frederick.

- Thank you, ma'am.

- Yes. Very, very nice indeed.

- Have the musicians come yet?

- They're washing in the cook's room.

Well, tell them when

Miss Charlotte and Miss Edna come down...

...to play a fanfare.

A fanfare, ma'am?

Oh, you mean like they do

in the circus.

Very good, ma'am. I'll tell them.

Serve the punch at 10:00.

Oh, Frederick, be careful. Very little rum.

It's a young people's party, you know.

Very good, ma'am.

George, you're not even dressed.

Well, well, well.

How pretty you look, my dear Catherine.

- Thank you, dear. But, really...

- Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I'll hurry.

But I've just been thinking how sad it is

losing our two girls.

And both at once.

Oh, we're not really losing them, dear.

You know, a son is a son

till he gets him a wife.

But a daughter's a daughter

all the rest of her life.

Well, I won't be a minute, dear.

- Gus, is Miss Edna home?

- Yes?

Not yet, ma'am.

She took the tandem out about 4:00.

Dear, oh, dear, she'll be late.

Oh, madam, here's Miss Edna now.

Whoa.

- Here, Tom.

Edna.

Thank goodness you've come.

I know, I know, I know, Mother.

But I couldn't help it.

I had to go to the bank

and get the favors.

I'll dress as fast as I can.

Oh, here they are.

Paper caps, snappers, balloons, confetti.

You look simply lovely, Mother.

Thank you, dear.

- Oh, how beautiful.

Charlotte. Charlotte.

- Charlotte.

- Edna.

Where have you been?

Charlotte.

Tell me, do I look like a hussy?

Edna, what on earth do you mean?

Do I? Do I look like the kind of girl

that men insult?

Because I've been insulted.

Why, Edna Kahly.

I went to the bank to cash the check...

Father's check.

- for the favors and things,

and the cashier, my dear...

...the cashier at that bank.

What on earth did he do?

Well, he looked at me and smiled.

And then I took my gloves off,

like this...

...and then he saw my ring...

Damon's ring.

And what do you think he had

the effrontery to say to me?

He said, "If that's

an engagement ring, young lady...

...you'd better get rid of it right quick. "

Right quick.

Must be a Westerner.

I never was so outraged in my life.

What on earth did you say?

Well, I don't know

what possessed me, but I said:

"Why?" And he said...

Well, what did he say, darling?

He said,

"Because you're gonna marry me. "

He didn't.

How perfectly thrilling.

Thrilling?

I never was so furious in my life.

It's a good thing Damon wasn't there.

He'd have knocked him down...

...there'd have been a scene.

- What'd you do? Did you slap him?

No. I just picked up the money

and walked straight out of the bank.

If you knew how humiliated I was,

and how cheap I felt.

I'm going to tell Father.

I'm going to see that that impudent

cashier's discharged tomorrow.

Was he good-looking?

Oh, he wasn't anywhere near

as handsome as Damon.

Here's the new bustle, Miss Charlotte.

Ain't it a daisy?

Oh, Edna, I wonder if you know

how grateful I am.

Grateful, Charlotte? Why?

For all your darling parents

have done for me.

Oh, dear, you mustn't feel...

I was such a baby

when I came here to live.

I don't even remember

my own mother and father.

But you've let me share yours

and I love you for it. I always will.

Oh, darling.

Why, think how happy you've made us.

I hope I have.

Listen. Carriages.

It's David and Allan.

Hurry, hurry. We'd better dress.

Good evening, sirs.

- Good evening, Gus.

- Good evening, Gus.

Thank you.

Oh, Edna, I only hope Allan's mother

and father take me into their hearts too.

I love him so.

Why, of course you do, darling.

We're going to be so terribly happy

when we're married.

Well, we mustn't cry about it.

Oh, it's just leaving home and all our

good times together and this dear room.

Well, we'll only be across the street,

after all.

Why, we'll never be separated, really.

We'll be brides together

and young wives together.

And maybe someday

we'll be mothers too.

Edna, how can you?

Mentioning such a thing.

Well, why not?

I don't know about you...

...but I'm going to have

five sons and five daughters.

Edna...

How do I look?

Damon's the luckiest living human.

I'd say Allan was.

I'd say we are.

Come on. They're waiting.

Here they are.

- Sweetheart.

- Darling.

I'm the happiest man

in the world, sweetheart.

Thank you, Allan.

I hope we'll always be happy.

I'm the happiest man in the world,

sweetheart.

Thank you, Damon.

I hope we always will...

What...? What is it, darling?

Nothing, I...

Damon, will you be an angel

and get me a handkerchief from Hilda?

Why, of course, darling.

Why didn't you tell me?

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

Father, I want to tell you about

this man's attention to business...

...in the bank this afternoon.

- You can't tell me anything...

...about Sam Gladney, my dear.

The Wisconsin County Bank

is backing him in a new business venture.

Thank you for the testimonial,

Mr. Kahly.

Do you know when I cashed that check

this afternoon, I shortchanged you?

- Is that so?

- He's come out here to make restitution.

Oh, no bother, sir. No bother at all.

There you are.

Thank you very much.

You may keep that dime

as a tip for your honesty.

Well, thank you very much,

but I'd rather have this dance.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

You see, it belongs to my fianc.

Oh, go ahead and dance with Mr. Gladney.

Go ahead.

You didn't shortchange me.

I counted the change

because I didn't trust you.

You're doggone right, Miss Edna.

I suppose I should have taken

a little more time to get acquainted.

But I leave tomorrow

to go back to Texas, in the flour business.

- How interesting.

- Your father asked me up...

...a couple of times to meet the family,

but I didn't accept...

...because I've been up to my neck

in this new flour mill of mine.

Gee, I wish I'd have known

you were here.

Don't tell me

I'd have rivaled the flour business.

You've come darn near it.

Thank you.

Is this the way they dance in Texas?

Shucks, yeah. We dance down there

to have fun. Why don't you?

We have other ideas of diversion,

I'm afraid.

I believe I've had enough of dancing.

Very well. All right, Miss Edna,

you're the boss.

But I'm not through talking yet.

I don't think you're the kind of a girl

who'd do a mean trick on a man...

...by marrying him when you belong

by rights to somebody else.

- You're insufferable.

- Wait.

When you showed up at my window this

afternoon, my mind was miles away from...

Well, from girls or anything like them.

And when you shoved that check in at me,

something fairly shouted in my ear...

...and said,

"Sam, that's the future Mrs. Gladney. "

Didn't you hear it?

Oh, I didn't mean to be fresh,

but I had to act quick.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'm going back to Texas...

...and fix it up for you.

Polish the sun, sweep the prairies.

Spread out the welcome mat

along the old Red River.

And then next spring

I'm coming back to fetch you.

Is that so?

Do you want to know

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Anita Loos

Anita Loos (April 26, 1889 – August 18, 1981) was an American screenwriter, playwright and author, best known for her blockbuster comic novel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She wrote film scripts from 1912, and became arguably the first-ever staff scriptwriter, when D.W. Griffith put her on the payroll at Triangle Film Corporation. She went on to write many of the Douglas Fairbanks films, as well as the stage adaptation of Colette’s Gigi. more…

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