DVD Review: DAISY KENYON (1947)

Daisy Kenyon

Directed by Otto Preminger. Cast: Henry Fonda, Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, Peggy Ann Garner, Ruth Warrick. Released Christmas day in 1947. Running time: 99 minutes.

One of those films that was overlooked when first released (it didn’t even make its production costs back at the box office), but has been elevated to classic status since, “Daisy Kenyon” is a stark, realistic, uncompromising romantic drama with a great director and some of the period’s finest actors.

This screen adaption of Elizabeth Janeway’s 1945 novel places a typical romantic triangle in the context of the post war era of personal triumph and privilege. Joan Crawford plays the title character, a confused artist in New York, who must choose between two suitors. One is a kindly widower (played comfortably and effectively by Henry Fonda), the other is a bitter married man (played quite brilliantly by Dana Andrews). Daisy marries the Fonda character, who broods over the fact that she still cares for the Andrews character. Meanwhile, the Andrews character’s serial cheating results in his wife leaving him and threatening to take the children. It is all vintage melodrama, real soap opera stuff, but placed in the hands of a director like Preminger and actors like the aforementioned, it comes off as a film that is better than its basis.

There is some backstory to the production. Preminger had to fight it out with censors due to the material contained within the original novel. Joan Crawford was cast despite having to be borrowed from another studio and being a bit too old for the character. Neither Fonda nor Andrews were interested in the characters they played, but were under contract and accepted the roles as part of the job.

When the film was released at the end of 1947, critics and audiences responded only to its surface. It was looked upon as a typical melodrama with conflicts that were as old as narrative cinema, and thus not worth the star power involved. However, in the ensuing years, “Daisy Kenyon” has risen to the level of cult classic, with several film buffs considering it one of the best movies of its kind.

Kino Lorber’s blu ray is a typically great restoration, and contains a good number of special features. Commentary by film historian Foster Hirsch, a couple of documentaries on Preminger, and on the making of the film, some images, and a trailer.

It is easy to recommend a film this strong, with as interesting a history, as well as a such a revised status. In later years, when interviewed, director Otto Preminger had no recollection of having made the film!

“Daisy Kenyon” is available here.