All this and Heaven Too is a movie from 1940 starring Bette Davis, Charles Boyer, Barbara O’Neil, and Jeffrey Lynn. It takes place in the years leading up to the second French Revolution of 1848. This situation and characters were real. The book of the same name was written by Rachel Field the grand-niece of Henriette Deluzy-Desportes. Field uses the real names of the Duc and Duchesse de Praslin, Henriette, her uncle, Henry Field, played by Jeffrey Lynn, and other historical characters. The basic story outline is this: “A duchess’s irrational behavior toward her children’s governess triggers tragic events that will change her family’s lives and the fate of the country forever.”
During this revolution, members of the aristocracy instituted laws that caused economic hardships and squelched free speech. It was in this state of political unrest that Henriette becomes governess to the children of the Duc and Duchess. The household is a troubled one because the Duchess displays irrational behavior toward her husband, played by Charles Boyer and later their new governess, played by Bette Davis. As time goes on, the Duchess, played to perfection by Barbara O’Neil, becomes so unreasonable that, it is implied, that the Duc murders her. To this day, however, the case has never been solved partly because the Duc, who is not subject to the civil law, is confined to his house by his fellow Peers where he finally commits suicide before giving any relevant testimony. At the same time, Henriette is arrested and jailed while awaiting a civil trial. This situation is one of the circumstances that cause the Revolution. Eventually the charges against Henriette are dismissed for lack of evidence. Henry Field, with supporters of Henriette help her immigrate to New York City where she becomes a teacher and eventually marries Field.
Bette Davis was famous for playing many different kinds of roles from unlikable murderesses to this one where she plays a quiet, restrained, but loving character. It was one of her favorite roles.
Celeste and I hope you will watch this movie and go to YouTube and make comments there or here. We’d love to know what you think of this movie based on real historical events.
Christine grew up in North Andover, MA with her parents Tony and Joyce and brothers Anthony and Eddie. She was very shy when she was young and spent a lot of time reading. Throughout her childhood Christine loved animals, especially elephants. People started to buy them for her as a collection. Her grandparents, Eddie and Ginger, as well as her parents would bring her back lucky elephants from their trips. Throughout her childhood Christine always enjoyed trips to the beach with her family and grandparents.
In 2006 Christine graduated from Merrimack College with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Elementary Education. In 2008 she received her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Merrimack College. Christine would then go on to teach elementary school for the next 13 years. Her favorite part of the day was reading to her students. It was during reading time that she connected with her students through books. They learned, laughed and felt a range of emotions together. Christine decided that she wanted to write her own book for students to engage with, while learning and laughing. Since elephants have always been her favorite animal, she found it fitting to include them in her story. In 2017 Christine traveled to Africa with her mother and husband where she was able to see elephants living in the wild, which was always a lifelong dream. Many of the elephants were playing in the water and seemed to be having fun as they appear to in her book. Christine and her husband John have 3 children- Joey, Nick and Adeline and a dog named Sophie with whom she loves to read. They laugh at her stories and enjoy trips to the beach together as a family.
If you are a podcaster, or have a message or fantastic product you want to share with the world, I encourage you to check out PodMatch. I call them a dating service for podcasters. Use the affiliate link and tell them, Lucinda sent you. Then contact me so we can set up a Story-Power chat.
Want to be a guest on Story-Power? Send Lucinda Sage-Midgorden a message on PodMatch, click here
Story-Power on Patreon
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power Patreon Community so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. Patreon is $5 a month for content not found on the Story-Power podcast, or on my Sage Woman Blog. They have recently instituted a free tier so you can try it out before you buy. If you’re passionate about stories, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower. Let’s share what we’ve learned from the stories we love.
Prolific Writers Life
My husband, Barry and I are members and experts at Prolific Writers Life, which offers members a variety of free online work sessions and discounts on coaching with industry experts. They offer opportunities to hone your writing skills, develop your author brand, and connect with a supportive community in live events. You can participate in group chats or send private messages to members through Prolific Writers Chat. If you’ve got a writing project, or are an expert who can help members finish their books, come join the community.
They also offer fun events like Films for Writers, which is free for anyone who wants to attend. It’s like a film club. We watch the movies about writers often with tidbits about their writing life, and then come together on the last Friday evening of every month to discuss the movie. You can check out Prolific Writers Life with a free 14 day trial to see if this the community you have been looking for.
Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters
Stories are a huge part of the way humans communicate with each other. Celeste and I think all stories are allegories where we can learn all kinds of important things, not the least of which is how to understand ourselves and others better. The best stories can be told over and over from one generation to the next and still teach great lessons. Emotional Intelligence and critical thinking are two of those lessons. Celeste and I think there are many classic movies that show us the progression of where humanity is today and we want to share them with you.
Shakespeare was right, “All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players.” The stories we tell and consume are us trying to figure out who we are, why we’re here, and the kind of world we want to live in.
A Summer Place (1959) is what was called at the time, “A Potboiler”. It was considered to be like a soap opera in movie form. But the genre of Melodrama became significant by director, Douglas Sirk’s take on the genre. He used these films to examine family relationships and challenge social norms that were restrictive. His goal was to get people to examine what they had taken for granted.
Delmar Daves, the director of A Summer Place and other melodramas, followed Sirk’s example. This is a story of a self-made businessman who decides to see if his memories of his time on Pine Island when he was the lifeguard and the young woman he loved are real, or fantasies. When he and his former girlfriend rekindle their love, their teenage children have a romance of their own with drastic consequences for both couples. Ken, the businessman, has an iconic speech denouncing the hate his wife spews and that he and his daughter have had to live with for so long. It’s no wonder their marriage crumbles. This movie examines so many important themes, racial hatred and sexual repression, alcohol addition, rekindling and finding love which heals the wounds of the past.
Celeste and I hope you will watch the film, follow our channel, and then make comments. We’d love to have a discussion about the movies we discuss. Come join the conversation on YouTube and our Facebook group.
At the end of 2025, I was privileged to have a conversation with Rich Wright on his podcast, Art Recovery Podcast. It aired last week and since I love Rich’s mission. On his host profile on PodMarch, he states that “Art Recovery Podcast is bringing light to the dark side of art. He takes his time with the conversations, which I think allows the listeners to absorb all of the information his guests have to offer. I hope you’ll enjoy our conversation.
PodMatch for Podcasters Affiliate link below.
Rich and I were connected because we’re both members of PodMatch. If you have written a book or created artwork or a business, you might want to consider joining PodMatch as a way to promote your work.
This episode is brought to you by PodMatch, the dating service for podcasters. They introduced me to Rich Wright, and I’m so glad they did. I hope you’ve enjoyed our conversation and remember that if you have a podcast or something to share with the world, check out PodMatch at my affiliate link at PodMatch and tell them Lucinda sent you.
Want to be a guest on Story-Power? Send Lucinda Sage-Midgorden a message on PodMatch, click here
I don’t remember much about the education policies at the time I was at school. I do remember the classes and teachers that got me excited about learning, and those that created an environment for me to grow, thrive and be me.
This is so key. If this feeling could encompass a whole school you know great things would be possible for everyone involved. It is down to each of us to be that person – to show how and what is possible to those around us and to be a beacon for growth. This helps pupils, staff and parents believe anything is possible. The world is a wonderful place of opportunity so let’s make it our focus to ‘be the change we wish to see in the world’, to quote Gandhi.
It is this bed of creativity that will give rise to the skills, understanding and knowledge that we will need in the future for a sustainable, happy and tolerant planet. Let’s show our pupils what has been achieved, what is known and how this came about. Then set them free to explore, enquire and grow so they can become the person they were born to be. In that gift the world has a bright, happy and exciting future of wondrous possibilities.
Mark has been a professional percussionist for 25 years and has had the opportunity of performing with some the UK’s finest orchestras and theatre companies. With 3 children and his experience of delivering whole class music workshops around the UK, Mark wanted to share the creative and inspiring learning he was witnessing in schools. This was the start of the Education on Fire podcast in 2016. Today the show has released over 350 episodes and has been downloaded in 147 countries.
Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education, Ger Graus
PodMatch for Podcasters Affiliate Link.
This episode is brought to you by PodMatch, the dating service for podcasters. They introduced me to Mark Taylor, and I’m so glad they did. I hope you’ve enjoyed our conversation and remember that if you have a podcast or something to share with the world, check out PodMatch at my affiliate link at PodMatch and tell them Lucinda sent you.
Want to be a guest on Story-Power? Send Lucinda Sage-Midgorden a message on PodMatch, click here.
Story-Power on Patreon
I’m so passionate about stories that I created the Story-Power Patreon Community so I’d have an excuse to talk story with other story lovers. Patreon is $5 a month for content not found on the Story-Power podcast, or on my Sage Woman Blog. They have recently instituted a free tier so you can try it out before you buy. If you’re passionate about stories, and want to talk about what you’ve learned from your favorites, come join me at patreon.com/StoryPower. Let’s share what we’ve learned from the stories we love.
Prolific Writers Life
My husband, Barry and I are members and experts at Prolific Writers Life, which offers members a variety of free online work sessions and discounts on coaching with industry experts. They offer opportunities to hone your writing skills, develop your author brand, and connect with a supportive community in live events. You can participate in group chats or send private messages to members through Prolific Writers Chat. If you’ve got a writing project, or are an expert who can help members finish their books, come join the community.
They also offer fun events like Films for Writers, which is free for anyone who wants to attend. It’s like a film club. We watch the movies about writers often with tidbits about their writing life, and then come together on the last Friday evening of every month to discuss the movie. You can check out Prolific Writers Life with a free 14 day trial to see if this the community you have been looking for.
Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters
Stories are a huge part of the way humans communicate with each other. Celeste and I think all stories are allegories where we can learn all kinds of important things, not the least of which is how to understand ourselves and others better. The best stories can be told over and over from one generation to the next and still teach great lessons. Emotional Intelligence and critical thinking are two of those lessons. Celeste and I think there are many classic movies that show us the progression of where humanity is today and we want to share them with you.
Shakespeare was right, “All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players.” The stories we tell and consume are us trying to figure out who we are, why we’re here, and the kind of world we want to live in.
Sage Woman Chronicles 