I had passed up this movie many times after reading mixed reviews, but taking a closer look at those involved realized it just had to be seen. Glad I did, was compelled all the way.
Over the top plot...? maybe so, but maybe not. I've mostly liked the screenplays of Lenore Coffee ~ notably: "Four Daughters" in '38. The long lost: "The Way of all Flesh" '40 (one of those many Paramount gems that got swallowed up in a deal by MCA TV then largely ignored! shameful.) Then in '52 "Sudden Fear", just a few among many. Under versatile director William K. Howard's hand, this story carries the thoughtful viewer through a variety of complex, moody situations. The treatment given to family values is possibly as good as any you may see in a 30's film...especially given the fact it's a story about neglect, infidelity, and murder.
Reviewers rave about Powell and Loy in their 'Thin Man' movies (these are fine within their genre) but this film offers up a worthwhile study of the pitfalls within our own human condition, with its temptations, ego, and various commitments. With an interesting original story as a starting point, paired with Coffee's intelligent screen adaptation, then backed up by convincing performers (Isabel Jewell is especially good during the courtroom scenes) these elements mostly add up to delivering first class entertainment that moves along fast enough as not to outstay its welcome. There's also a night club treat featuring a performance of the old standard "Me and My Shadow" that should delight any musical eyes and ears.
There's a reoccurring aspect of some early film studio's product that's a little difficult to understand...and it appears to be a possible miss-reading of the majority of their intended target audiences living conditions. They persisted in choosing overly opulent settings for a vast number of story characters - while the larger audience population was beset with debt or poverty. Seems perhaps America may have been selling an image to the world, while ignoring their own even larger struggling class. Putting this aside, take a look, if you enjoy well made 30's drama, you could just find this pleasing, even quite special.
Foot Note: Good to see TCM Australia giving us more newly added titles, also good to note they are replacing some of their earlier bad focus prints with re-masted quality. Although, other copies of classics such as "Border Incident" and Mystery Street" remain, at the time of this writing, in bad need of replacing. It would also be a treat for its subscribers if TCM put aside the wailing of various industry eccentric's and gave its viewing public the chance to see some of their better 'colorized' prints...especially the musicals, after all, what audience ever really needed a B/W musical?
KenR..............
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