Mrs. Parkington (1944) Review: The Good, The Bad & How to Watch

 

Mrs. Parkington  (1944) Review: The Good, The Bad & How to Watch

American Film, Drama, Romance

Golden Globes, 1945- Winner: Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards, 1945- 2 nominations including: Best Actress in a Leading Role

In the sprawling landscape of 1940s cinema, few films capture the dizzying climb from rags to riches with as much heart and high-society grit as the 1944 classic Mrs. Parkington. Starring the indomitable Greer Garson and the effortlessly charismatic Walter Pidgeon, this film isn’t just a period piece; it is a sprawling epic of a woman who outlasted the scandals of the Gilded Age to become the matriarch of an empire. More on Wikipedia or Mubi 

The Gilded Resilience of Susie Parkington: A Masterclass in Old Hollywood Drama 

The story follows Susie Parkington, played by Garson with her signature blend of warmth and steel, as she navigates a life that spans decades. We meet her as an elderly woman, the wealthy foundation of a family that has largely grown spoiled and directionless. Through a series of expertly woven flashbacks, we are transported back to her humble beginnings as a boarding-house maid in a rough-and-tumble Nevada mining town. This is where she catches the eye of Major Augustus Parkington, a man whose ambition is matched only by his swagger.

WATCH TRAILER 

What makes Mrs. Parkington stand out from other dramas of the era is the palpable chemistry between its leads. This was one of several pairings for Garson and Pidgeon, and their onscreen shorthand provides a believable emotional anchor. Augustus is far from a perfect hero; he is a robber baron, a social climber, and at times, a philanderer. Yet, Susie’s journey is not about being a victim of his world, but about mastering it. She evolves from a wide-eyed girl into a woman of immense dignity, proving that while money can be inherited, true class must be earned through trial and error.

The production values reflect the peak of MGM’s legendary "More Stars Than There Are in Heaven" era. The costumes are lush, the sets are cavernous and intimidating, and the cinematography wraps the entire narrative in a nostalgic, silvery glow. Even as the film explores the darker side of the American Dream—the loneliness of wealth and the decay of family values across generations—it remains inherently watchable because of Garson’s commanding performance. She managed to snag an Oscar nomination for the role, and it’s easy to see why. She carries the weight of the film’s two-hour runtime with a grace that feels both timeless and deeply human.

Watching Mrs. Parkington today offers more than just a history lesson in filmmaking. It serves as a reminder of an era when movies were built on the backs of titanic performances and scripts that valued dialogue over spectacle. It is a story about the endurance of the human spirit and the realization that the most valuable thing a person can leave behind isn't a fortune in a bank account, but a legacy of character.

The Brilliance of the Parkington Legacy

The undeniable strength of the film lies in the powerhouse pairing of Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. By 1944, they were the "king and queen" of the MGM lot, and their chemistry is so natural that it makes a somewhat long movie feel intimate. Garson is particularly impressive because she has to play Susie across several decades. Watching her transition from a naive mining-town girl to a formidable, sharp-tongued matriarch is a masterclass in subtle character acting. She brings a grounded, human soul to a world that could have easily felt like a cold museum of expensive furniture.

The film also deserves credit for its stunning production design. This is the Gilded Age at its most opulent. The costumes and the sprawling mansions aren't just background noise; they represent the burden of the "Parkington" name. Visually, the film is a feast, capturing the contrast between the dusty, hopeful West and the rigid, judgmental high society of New York. Additionally, the supporting cast—especially Agnes Moorehead as the French Aspasia Conti—adds a layer of sophistication and wit that keeps the drama from becoming too heavy-handed.

The Cracks in the Golden Veneer

On the flip side, the film’s runtime and pacing can be a bit of a hurdle for contemporary viewers. At over two hours, the narrative occasionally meanders, particularly in the modern-day segments involving Susie’s spoiled descendants. While these scenes are meant to show the "rot" of the family tree, the characters often come across as one-dimensional caricatures of rich snobs, making you impatient to get back to the much more interesting flashbacks of Susie and the Major.

There is also the matter of the Major’s characterization. Walter Pidgeon is incredibly charming, which almost masks the fact that Augustus Parkington is, by modern standards, a bit of a rogue and a bully. The film asks us to root for their romance despite his numerous flaws and questionable ethics in both business and marriage. While this adds a layer of "real-world" complexity, some might find the film’s ultimate romanticization of their turbulent relationship a little hard to swallow compared to today’s more critical take on the "Great Man" trope.
Full Film