All I Desire(1953)

All I Desire (1953). Drama. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck as an actress who returns to visit her husband and children after having run off with another man years before. It is based on the novel Stopover by Carol Ryrie Brink.

The story begins in 1910, aging actress Naomi Murdoch receives a letter from her daughter Lily. Ten years earlier, Naomi had created a scandal by leaving her teacher husband Henry and their children. Even though it means continuing to lie to the family that she is a famous Shakespearean actress. Naomi decides to return to Wyoming, and uses her entire savings for a makeover. At the same time that Naomi's train pulls up at the town station, Lily is wishing that her mother will arrive in time to see her star in the school play and Henry is being named the new superintendent of schools. Naomi shows up during dinner, shocking everyone, until Lily and the housekeeper welcome her. Henry and Joyce, are not sure about Naomi's visit. Naomi is surprised to find herself thrilled at how little the house has changed, but is heartbroken when Joyce lets her know that she does not consider Naomi family and wants her to leave. Soon after, Henry and Naomi argue over the reasons of her leaving, and she promises him that she will not embarrass him. Will the family ever forgive Naomi and welcome her with open arms?

All I Desire, is one of the movie selections from, Barbara Stanwyck new DVD collection. This film reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt, with the similar storyline about small town America. The story also has a similarity with the movie Clash by Night, made one year earlier, where Stanywck stars in a similar part.

Richard Carlson (April 29, 1912 - November 25, 1977). His first film role was in, The Young in Heart(1938). in the beginning he appeared mostly in comedies and dramas, including The Little Foxes and Too Many Girls (1940).

In 1948, Carlson was cast in two film noirs: Behind Locked Doors and The Amazing Mr. X. His movie career made a turn around in 1950, when he co-starred with Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger in, King Solomon's Mines. Other films followed, including the World War II naval action film, Flat Top. He then moved on to science fiction and horror B films: The Maze (1953), It Came from Outer Space (1953), Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Magnetic Monster. His success in the genre led him to the director's chair for the 1954 sci-fi film Riders to the Stars, in which he also starred.

In addition to writing and directing film and television projects, Carlson was also performed in the television series, I Led Three Lives from 1953 to 1956. He was featured in The Helen Morgan Story (1957). His last film was, Change of Habit (1969). In the 1958-1959 television season, Carlson portrayed Colonel Ranald Mackenzie in the syndicated western series Mackenzie's Raiders. His last acting role was in a 1973 episode of CBS's Cannon detective series starring William Conrad.