In ALL I DESIRE, a Douglas Sirk film based on Carol Brink's novel STOPOVER, Naomi Murdock (Barbara Stanwyck) returns to the family she left years before. Her reconciliation is complicated by the appearance of Dutch (Lyle Bettger), the man who was once her lover. Dutch's attempts to rekindle their relationship brings back to life the scandal that was one of the original causes of her flight. Also, Naomi's oldest daughter remains bitter about the homecoming while her husband, Henry (Richard Carlson), is skeptical of her reasons for return.

Maureen O'Sullivan is terrific in a supporting role as Sara Harper, the schoolteacher who adds to the tension by having fallen for Henry, while Stanwyck, flourishing in the trademark Sirk material, provides the cornerstone for the film with a magnificent performance. With ALL I DESIRE, Sirk (TARNISHED ANGELS, IMITATION OF LIFE) begins to fully hit his stride as a director of visually breathtaking, emotionally rich melodramas.