Alice Adams

"Twenty-two and wonderful ... as Booth Tarkington's loveliest heroine!"

Nov 13 1935 Approved 1h 39m
Comedy, Drama, Romance

In the lower-middle-class Adams family, father and son are happy to work in a drugstore, but mother and daughter Alice try every possible social-climbing stratagem despite snubs and embarrassment. When Alice finally meets her dream man Arthur, mother nags father into a risky business venture and plans to impress Alice's beau with an "upscale" family dinner. Will the excruciating results drive Arthur away?

Plot

In the small town of South Renford, Alice Adams comes from a working class background, although she aspires to be among the upper class. Alice's mother blames her husband for their low social standing, despite his working hard and Alice not blaming him for anything. Regardless, Alice tries to do whatever necessary to put on appearances of wealth and social standing, despite everyone in that class in town knowing who she is, and thus largely ignoring her because of her false airs. First meeting at a society ball, Alice surprisingly catches the eye of Arthur Russell, surprisingly as he purportedly is engaged to débutante Mildred Palmer. As Alice continues to hide her true social standing from Arthur as he courts her, Mrs. Adams pressures Mr. Adams into doing something he doesn't want to do in an effort truly to become part of the business class, that measure which entails sinking all his money into a business venture. Beyond the time when Arthur finds out the true nature behind Alice's facade, other issues may bring the fragile Adams society house of cards tumbling down around them, and thus the happiness Alice is seeking with Arthur.

Written by

Booth Tarkington, Dorothy Yost, Mortimer Offner

Directed by

George Stevens

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

RKO Radio Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 2 Oscars. 1 win & 3 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
4,708
Average Rating
6.9 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA