Sarah and Son
“A Powerful Drama of Mother Love”
Synopsis
A ne'er-do-well husband, after years of abusing his wife, disappears with their son, and winds up selling him to a wealthy family. Years later, the wife, now a world-famous opera singer, finally has enough time and money to begin a search for him.
Top Cast
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Ruth Chatterton
Sarah Storm
Fredric March
Howard Vanning
Fuller Mellish Jr.
Jim Grey
Gilbert Emery
John Ashemore
Doris Lloyd
Martha Ashemore
William Stack
Cyril Belloc
Philippe De Lacy
Bobby
Edgar Norton
Vanning's Butler (Uncredited)
Douglas Scott
Young Bobby (Uncredited)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
Dick Winslow
Servant's Son (Uncredited)
Lottie Williams
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 14, 1930
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Dorothy Arzner
- Screenplay & Story
- Zoë Akins
- Original Score
- Oscar Potoker
- Original Title
- Sarah and Son
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 26m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Dorothy Arzner
Zoë Akins, Timothy Shea
Oscar Potoker
Charles Lang
Verna Willis
Department Leadership Roster
Dorothy Arzner
Director
Oscar Potoker
Original Music Composer
Travis Banton
Costume Design
Charles Lang
Director of Photography
Verna Willis
Editor
Zoë Akins
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sarah and Son.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sarah and Son.
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Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
Oscar Best Actress Nominees
Complete list of Oscar Best Actress Nominees
Oscars 1931
Nominees and selected films for the 3rd Academy Awards (ceremony year 1931).
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sarah and Son
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sarah and Son about?
A ne'er-do-well husband, after years of abusing his wife, disappears with their son, and winds up selling him to a wealthy family. Years later, the wife, now a world-famous opera singer, finally has enough time and money to begin a search for him.
Who directed Sarah and Son?
Sarah and Son was directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Who stars in Sarah and Son?
The principal cast of Sarah and Son includes Ruth Chatterton, Fredric March, Fuller Mellish Jr., Gilbert Emery, Doris Lloyd.
When was Sarah and Son released and how long is it?
Sarah and Son was released in 1930 with a total runtime of 1h 26m.
Who composed the musical score for Sarah and Son?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sarah and Son was composed by Oscar Potoker.
Is Sarah and Son based on a book or true story?
Sarah and Son is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Timothy Shea".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sarah and Son?
Sarah and Son holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).