This Side of Heaven


This Side of Heaven is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by William K. Howard, written by Zelda Sears, Eve Greene, Edgar Allan Woolf and Florence Ryerson, and starring Lionel Barrymore, Fay Bainter, Mae Clarke, Tom Brown and Una Merkel. It was released on February 2, 1934, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Plot

This Side of Heaven is a warm, gently comedic family drama that reflects Depression-era ideals of perseverance, compassion, and quiet heroism.
The film centers on Sam Hilton, a kind-hearted but chronically underpaid high-school teacher whose dedication to his students and community far outweighs his financial success. Sam and his wife, Elizabeth, struggle to make ends meet while raising their children, yet their home remains rich in love, humor, and moral grounding. Sam’s belief in integrity, education, and personal responsibility defines his approach to both family life and the classroom.
As the years pass, economic hardship and generational change test the Hilton family’s unity. Sam’s children grow up and drift away, some chasing ambition, others distancing themselves from the modest values they were raised with. Meanwhile, Sam’s professional life offers little recognition, and the quiet sacrifices he makes for others often go unnoticed.
When illness and loss force the family to confront what truly matters, long-buried emotions surface and relationships are reevaluated. In the end, This Side of Heaven affirms the enduring power of decency and selflessness, suggesting that real success is measured not by wealth or status, but by the lasting impact one has on the lives of others.
Tender, humorous, and deeply human, the film stands as a poignant tribute to everyday goodness and the unsung dignity of ordinary people.

Cast