| This Side of Heaven | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | William K. Howard |
| Screenplay by | Zelda Sears Eve Greene Edgar Allan Woolf Florence Ryerson |
| Based on | This Side of Heaven 1932 novel by Marjorie Bartholomew Paradis |
| Produced by | John W. Considine Jr. |
| Starring | Lionel Barrymore Fay Bainter Mae Clarke Tom Brown Una Merkel |
| Cinematography | Harold Rosson |
| Edited by | Frank E. Hull |
| Music by | William Axt |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Loew's Inc. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
This Side of Heaven is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by William K. Howard, written by Zelda Sears, Eve Greene, Edgar Allan Woolf and Florence Ryerson, and starring Lionel Barrymore, Fay Bainter, Mae Clarke, Tom Brown and Una Merkel. It was released on February 2, 1934, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1][2]
Plot
This Side of Heaven (1934) is a warm, gently comedic family drama that reflects Depression-era ideals of perseverance, compassion, and quiet heroism.
The film centers on Sam Hilton, a kind-hearted but chronically underpaid high-school teacher whose dedication to his students and community far outweighs his financial success. Sam and his wife, Elizabeth, struggle to make ends meet while raising their children, yet their home remains rich in love, humor, and moral grounding. Sam’s belief in integrity, education, and personal responsibility defines his approach to both family life and the classroom.
As the years pass, economic hardship and generational change test the Hilton family’s unity. Sam’s children grow up and drift away, some chasing ambition, others distancing themselves from the modest values they were raised with. Meanwhile, Sam’s professional life offers little recognition, and the quiet sacrifices he makes for others often go unnoticed.
When illness and loss force the family to confront what truly matters, long-buried emotions surface and relationships are reevaluated. In the end, This Side of Heaven affirms the enduring power of decency and selflessness, suggesting that real success is measured not by wealth or status, but by the lasting impact one has on the lives of others.
Tender, humorous, and deeply human, the film stands as a poignant tribute to everyday goodness and the unsung dignity of ordinary people.
Cast
- Lionel Barrymore as Martin Turner
- Fay Bainter as Francene Turner
- Mae Clarke as Jane Turner
- Tom Brown as Seth Turner
- Una Merkel as Birdie
- Mary Carlisle as Peggy Turner
- Onslow Stevens as Walter
- Henry Wadsworth as Hal
- Edward Nugent as Vance
- C. Henry Gordon as William Barnes
- Dickie Moore as Freddie
- Edwin Maxwell as R.S. Sawyer
- Mickey Daniels as Stinky Bliss
- Helen Hayes as Actress on screen in theatre, Uncredited Cameo (Clip from Another Language)
- Robert Montgomery as Actor on screen in theatre, Uncredited cameo (Clip from Another Language)
References
- ↑ "This Side of Heaven (1934) - Overview". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on September 11, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
- ↑ "This Side Of Heaven". TV Guide. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
External links
- This Side of Heaven at IMDb
- This Side of Heaven at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)
- This Side of Heaven at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
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