Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)

After a shot gun marriage, Lola loses the couple’s baby and relies for comfort on her dog, Sheba, who has run away, while Doc is a recovering alcoholic who blames Lola for his dropping out of medical school. Though still depressed and bitter about their past, the couple rents out a room to a young woman named Marie and while Marie brings happiness and young love into their home, she also brings old ghosts reminding Doc and Lola of their misfortunes.

Outstanding

To those who only know Shirley Booth by Hazel this is a must see. Her other classic movie Hot Spell shows a similar dramatic flair. Booth shines as a a woman who is caught in circumstances and is forced to live with them. The funny thing is the circumstances didn't and shouldn't have been.

We see Lola coping by trying to relive her youth through her border while her husband copes by simply ignoring or forgetting the past (through his drinking).

Shirley Booth only made four movies and this is a must see. July 26, 2008

Come back, Little Sheba

It is a beautiful story about how the disease of alcoholism affects a family, and how recovery benefits the same. Boothe and Lancaster are true stars in this film. May 26, 2008

The best!

Come Back, Little Sheba is the saddiest, sweetest, and the most honest film ever! Shirley Booth gives a real and gutwrenching performance, she won an Oscar for best actress and rightly so. Burt Lancaster perfects his grumpy dispostion, he was the King of that! If there is one classic film to see, this is it. I highly recommend it! April 29, 2008

Shirley, We Hardly Knew Ye

I grew up with Shirley Booth as the sweet but annoying Hazel (who would have this busybody as their maid? And who in 2008 can afford a maid?) I saw this movie on an television station late night movie. Her performance as the needy, loving, but pitiful woman tore me up & down. I remembering sobbing at the sadness of their lives. Burt Lancaster is also compelling as the younger, drunken Doc. In fact, I thought his youth, relative to hers, was an intentional part of the plot. The "older" woman seducing this studly young med student, who did the "right thing." It may seem old fashioned now - I laughed out loud at the woman who wrote she should get a life. To wit I would say, read a book about life before the Women's Movement in the 1970's. Not the movie who's myopic here. Don't know if you would want to buy the film unless you've already seen it and know what a tour de force Shirley Booth's performanc is. But if you have seen it, and love well written, well acted drama about imperfect people in an imperfect world, this film is for you. PS - I am going to see S. Epatha Merkerson attempt this role on Broadway. Love S. Epatha but she's got some big shoes to fill! January 8, 2008

rather boring, actually

I realize why so many others gave this the highest rating. However, I
just could not help thinking - this woman needs to get a life. She is so
needy. Every time she called her husband "daddy" I wanted to scream.
She spends the vast majority of her time trying to get the dullard's
attention and approval.

The outcome is so predictable. The wife welcomes a sexy little college
student into their home as a symbolic replacement for the baby she lost
many years before. And the husband's interest is at first non-existent
and then becomes more than fatherly.

Maybe I have heard this story too many times. I don't know, but I had
hoped for something at least a little more subtle.
September 26, 2007

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