The Heiress (4 stars)

The Heiress, from 1949, is a William Wyler period drama starring Olivia deHavilland, Montgomery Clift, and Ralph Richardson, with Miriam Hopkins taking on a supporting role.  Based on the Henry James novel Washington Square, The Heiress was first brought to life on the stage in 1947.  It is about to begin a new Broadway run...something I will tell you about tomorrow.

In 1840's New York, Catherine Sloper (deHavilland) is the shy, awkward daughter of socially-prominent physician, Austin Sloper.  A widower who has totally pedestalized his late wife, Dr. Sloper can barely stand the sight of his daughter and is ashamed by her gauche behavior. Although she is of marriageable age, he cannot imagine anyone being interested in her---she is not clever, pretty, conversational, or anything else which would draw a suitor to her. The only thing she has is a sum of money left to her by her mother and, upon her father's death, an even larger sum. In short, the fact that she is an heiress is the only reason any man would be interested in her.

One evening, Catherine and her father, along with one of her father's widowed sisters, attend the engagement party of another sister's daughter. At that party, Catherine's awkward ways become apparent to all, and she is even abandoned by a young man who had been requested to dance with her. Alas, though, while she is sitting alone, she is approached by the gallant and handsome Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift), who has just returned to New York after a time abroad. He is most interested in getting to know her and soon comes calling at the Sloper home.

Dr. Sloper is absolutely convinced that Mr. Townsend can be after only one thing...his daughter's fortune. Though Morris tells the doctor he finds Catherine beautiful and charming, since he knows those words do not describe his daughter, Dr. Sloper refuses to support their courtship; he even digs into Morris's background a bit and discovers that Morris has no job nor any prospects for one and that he wasted away a small inheritance by galivanting about Europe. Convinced that Morris Townsend is nothing but a fortune hunter, the doctor forbids Catherine to see him.

Catherine, however, in love with Morris and believing he loves her as well, is willing to defy her father and risk being disowned by him in order to marry Morris.  Thus, the two make plans to elope.

Does Morris really love Catherine? Does he really find her charming?  Or is he just after her money?  Will they follow through on their plans to elope?  What will Catherine's father do when he discovers the marriage?  The answers to these questions will play out in the balance of the film.  I will say that I found the final scene of the film to be one of the most memorable ending scenes in film history.



Receiving a total of eight Academy Award nominations and coming away with a win in four categories, The Heiress is an interesting, exciting, well-acted film. Olivia deHavilland, who garnered her second Best Actress statue for her portrayal of Catherine, is simply fabulous in this role. (It's my favorite of her performances.) Her portrayal of the awkward daughter trying to converse in society pained me right along with her, and when she realized the true extent of her father's feelings for her, again, I grieved along with her.  I completely and totally felt her pain, and yet as Catherine evolved, and the icy hardness of her character was revealed, Miss deHavilland was perfect there as well.  Truly, this role afforded Olivia an opportunity to display the broad range of her talents.

Ralph Richardson, who reprised the role he played on the London stage, received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work in The Heiress.  His portrayal of Dr. Sloper was terrific. Montgomery Clift was fantastic in his role as well...his character really kept you guessing.  Did he truly love Catherine?  Or was he just after her money?  As always, Monty is gorgeous to look at, though I must admit, I hated the silly little mustache he sported for a time.  I prefer his beautiful face clean-shaven.

While I'm calling The Heiress a 4-star film, it's more like 4.5, and very close to 5---a definite must see!  Out on DVD, it should be fairly easy to track down.  Additionally, the film is available in its entirety on YouTube (in parts.)  I do hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!

Detective Story (5 stars)

Detective Story, from 1951, which I just caught for the first time as part of my Eleanor Parker birthday month celebration, is one of my 5-star film discoveries of the year.  (While I've watched and reviewed other 5-star films in recent weeks, they are all films I've seen before; Detective Story I only just now discovered, so it gets put into the "5-star film discovery" category.)  Produced and directed by William Wyler, the film, which is based on Sidney Kingsley's 1949 play of the same name, stars Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker (in an Oscar-nominated performance), and William Bendix.  It is a bold, gritty, mature-themed drama, with incredible acting and a rather surprise/shocking ending; all those things combine to make this a 5-star film for me.

The film takes place within a several hour period of one day at a New York City police precinct, mostly focusing on one particular detective---Sgt. Jim McLeod (Kirk Douglas), an angry, hard-nosed man who believes there are no gray areas, only black and white.  Completely intolerant of criminals, McLeod does not believe in softness or in turning the other cheek, and he often behaves violently toward law-breakers in order to force a confession from them.

On this particular day, Sgt. McLeod is obsessed with getting the goods on one Dr. Carl Schneider---no matter what it takes, Jim intends to see the doctor convicted and put into the electric chair.   Although he doesn't realize it, Jim's vendetta against the doctor will have a very real and personal effect on his relationship with his wife, Mary (Eleanor Parker).  (So as not to give any of the plot away, I won't say anything more about that particular storyline.)

In addition to Dr. Schneider, several other lawbreakers are brought into the precinct. There's a shoplifter (played by Lee Grant, in her Oscar-nominated film debut)

a pair of hoods charged with armed robbery,

and Arthur, a previously-trustworthy young man who has stolen from his employer.  Although the fatherly Sgt. Brody (William Bendix) believes Arthur is really a good boy and can be shown leniency, McLeod doesn't believe in leniency and intends to throw the book at him.  How all these stories play out is the balance of the film.  (The trailer gives a bit too much away, so if you don't want any spoilers, don't watch it.)





Everything about Detective Story merits 5 stars...the acting, the cinematography, the direction, the bold (for its time) subject matter.  While I would not call myself a Kirk Douglas fan (and am not all that familiar with his work), I have to say that he was completely and totally fantastic in this film.  Quite honestly, this was his show...and he carried it brilliantly.  I was shocked to discover that he didn't even garner an Academy Award nomination for his work here.  (However, I have long thought The Academy got the 1951 awards wrong and that Montgomery Clift ought to have won for his work in A Place in the Sun.  While I still think that, I do believe Kirk Douglas deserved a nomination and that he would have given Mr. Clift a run for his money.)  Mr. Douglas is totally sensational in this film.

Though Douglas didn't receive Academy Award recognition here, the film did receive four nominations---Best Director (Wyler), Best Supporting Actress (Lee Grant), Best Writing, and Best Actress (Eleanor Parker).  For the second year in a row, Miss Parker received a Best Actress nomination, and while she is quite good here, the reality is, as I have stated, this is first and foremost Kirk Douglas's vehicle.

Cathy O'Donnell, of Ben-Hur (Tirzah) and The Best Years of Our Lives (Wilma) fame, portrays Arthur's love interest.  She is her usual sweet, gentle self.

Just FYI, Miss O'Donnell was the sister-in-law of William Wyler.  For 22 long, happy years (until death claimed her), she was married to the director's older brother, Robert.

The ending of the film is rather shocking...I definitely didn't expect things to work out the way they did.  While I like predictable, sometimes the unexpected quite adds to a film's credibility, which it definitely did in Detective Story.

Finally, just have to say, this is one of those films which absolutely MUST be looked at through the lens of its time, otherwise it will seem laughable.  The situation over which Kirk Douglas's character agonizes is something that society doesn't care about anymore.  Most people will look at his character's response and think, "Who cares.  Why make a big deal out of that?"  So, definitely, put on your early 1950's mind when you watch this film.

To my knowledge, Detective Story is not out on DVD, nor is it often on the TCM schedule.  I have been looking for this film for a couple years, and I finally tracked it down on YouTube a few months ago (put off watching it until now).  It's in 11 parts, but it's there nonetheless. (The first part was a little difficult to find, so HERE is the link to it.)  I am definitely hoping TCM puts this amazing movie on the schedule soon, so I can record it and have it as part of my collection.  Kirk Douglas fans won't want to miss this film.

Happy viewing!!

Friendly Persuasion (4 stars)

Friendly Persuasion, from 1956, is a Civil War-era drama starring Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire, with Anthony Perkins in a supporting role.  Produced and directed by William Wyler, this film, which is based on Jessamyn West's The Friendly Persuasion, is one I recently watched for the second time in celebration of my beloved Coop's May birthday.  Though the setting is during the Civil War, this is not a war film.  It's more the saga of a family and how they live out their moral convictions in the midst of the war.

As the Civil War rages in 1862, the Birdwell family of southern Indiana finds themselves having to re-examine many of their Quaker beliefs.  After a Union soldier makes a visit to their meeting house one Sunday,  Jess (Gary Cooper), patriarch of the family, begins to wrestle with whether it is right to maintain their non-violence policy.  While the Quakers are opposed to slavery, they don't believe it is right to kill one man to free another; however, when the soldier accuses the men of hiding behind their church to save their skin, son Josh (Anthony Perkins) isn't so sure staying out of the war is the right thing to do.

The matriarch of the family is Eliza (Dorothy McGuire), and as the town's preacher, she is bound and determined to live righteously.  Therefore, she is quite beside herself when a visit to the county fair exposes her children to the "evils" of dancing, wrestling, and gambling.  And when Jess, despite knowing that music is against the Quaker beliefs, purchases an organ, Eliza insists that he get rid of it...something he has no intention of doing.  Adding to the "sin" of the music, is Jess's habit of entering into a horse race with a neighbor as he drives the family to church each week.

How can the Birdwells live amidst all the unrighteousness and not be tainted by it themselves?  And what will they do when the Confederate Army approaches and they are forced to defend their home?  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.



Friendly Persuasion is a very enjoyable film.  It is a bit on the long side (2 hours, 15 minutes), but, honestly, it never dragged.  Although the film is a drama, there are a few very comical moments...such as when Jess and Josh go calling on Jess's customers.  Marjorie Main portrays a widow with 3 VERY marriage-minded daughters who see Josh as a prime husband candidate.  Their "hospitality" towards Josh is quite a hoot.  Another funny scene is the one in which the church elders come calling on the possibly-wayward Birdwells.  With the forbidden organ hidden away in the attic, Jess begins to pray very loudly in order to camouflage the sound of his daughter making music on the instrument.  The always-delightful Charles Halton is one of the church elders, and I just love his reaction to Coop's prayer.

This is a very well-acted film.  Gary Cooper is perfect in his role as head of the family, and he and Dorothy McGuire are great together.  However, Anthony Perkins (in only his second screen role) more than holds his own with those two much-bigger names.  I was completely impressed by his portrayal of the coming-of-age Josh.

The Dimitri Tiomkin score of Friendly Persuasion is quite lovely, and the theme song, with music by Mr. Tiomkin, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, and vocals by Pat Boone, received the Best Music, Original Song Academy Award nomination.



In addition to its music nomination, the film received five others, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Perkins).  While it didn't come away with any wins, it is, nevertheless, a thoroughly entertaining film, which I highly recommend.

Out on DVD, this film should be easy to track down; however, it's also on the TCM schedule for Thursday, June 14th, at 9:00 a.m. (ET).  I hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!

The Best Years of Our Lives (5 stars)

The Best Years of Our Lives, the Academy Award winning film from 1946, is our family's annual Veteran's Day movie.  I have to admit, that is a hardship for me.  Oh, not because I don't like it...on the contrary.  I absolutely, totally love this film.  It is easily one of my top ten favorite movies of all time, which means, I really would prefer to watch it more often than once a year; however, to keep it "special," watching it once a year is precisely what I am doing.  (Sort of like keeping It's a Wonderful Life for the once-a-year Christmas night viewing.)  Since today is Veteran's Day, it's time for me to enjoy this beloved film once more, and even though most everyone probably knows it, I'm re-running the review I posted when I first began this blog in February.

The Best Years of Our Lives was the Academy Award winner for best picture in 1946. In fact, it won many Oscars that year, including Fredric March for Best Actor and Harold Russell for Best Supporting Actor and William Wyler for Best Director. It was this movie that shut-down the beloved It's a Wonderful Life in the Oscars that year.

A bit on the long side (about ten minutes shy of three hours), The Best Years of Our Lives is a wonderful movie that explores a problem that was very much in existence in those early days after the second world war....the plight of the war veterans who were returning home to a country that in many ways had gone on without them while they were away. The movie stars Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Harold Russell, and Virginia Mayo.

The movie begins when Al Stevenson (Fredric March), Fred Derry (Dana Andrews), and Homer Parrish (Harold Russell), all war veterans from different branches of the service, attempt to find flights home to the hometown they share in common. Unable to find an available commercial flight, they are routed onto a military craft, and lifelong friendships are born as the men get to know one another.

Al is an Army veteran who has been married to Millie (Myrna Loy) for twenty years and has two upper teenage children. Fred, a bomber pilot, had a whirlwind romance and married Marie (Virginia Mayo) only a few short days before leaving for war. And Homer, who joined the Navy fresh out of high school, has two hooks in place of arms, the result of a shipboard tragedy. (I must digress here and say that Harold Russell, who plays Homer, was not a professional actor at all. Rather, like his character, he was a real disabled Navy veteran, who had lost his arms at sea...He actually won two Academy Awards for this role...the best supporting actor and an achievement award as well.)

Anyhow, the men's arrival home is difficult, as life has gone on without them. Al barely recognizes his children, so grown they are. Fred's wife has taken a job and moved out of his parents' home and into an apartment of her own. And when he finally tracks her down, she is none too keen on the fact that he is not a man in uniform anymore. And Homer, painfully aware that his two hooks are disturbing for his family and high school sweetheart to look at, withdraws into himself.

The first night home, Al takes his wife and daughter Peggy (Teresa Wright) to a local bar, where he unexpectedly meets up with his two new friends, Fred and Homer. When Al and Fred end up totally drunk and completely passed out, Millie and Peggy take them back to the Stevenson apartment so they can sleep it off. Peggy puts Fred in her bed, removes his shoes, and heads to the couch. In the middle of the night, however, she is awakened by Fred screaming, as he has a nightmare about a bombing raid. She soothes him, and then they both go back to sleep. In the morning, she drives him to his wife's apartment, and there is a definite connection between them.

Fred's reunion with his wife does not go well. She doesn't like that he now needs to find a civilian job or the fact that he is a man out of uniform. (The uniform was one of the reasons she had wanted to marry him!!) Add to that, she wants to party and be out all the time, including hanging out with other men. When the only job Fred is able to obtain is as a soda jerk at the drugstore where he formerly worked, Marie belittles him.

Al, who is a bank executive, begins to be unsettled with the bank's treatment of war veterans who are applying for loans. When these men, who have faithfully served their country, are denied loans because of insufficient collateral, Al is angered and often attempts to extend loans anyway.

And Homer, feeling like a freak show with his two hooks, is angry all the time. He no longer wants to marry Wilma and completely withdraws from her...and everyone, except for Al and Fred.

To reveal anything more about this movie would spoil your viewing pleasure, so I'll stop here. I hope that I've whet your appetite, that I've made you interested in the characters so that you want to discover how things turn out. I totally love this movie....it's on my top 10 list, and although I am an It's a Wonderful Life fan, I am SO in agreement with all the awards The Best Years of Our Lives racked up.

Not only is this film out on DVD, but TCM airs it frequently, so you shouldn't have a problem tracking it down.  I think it's a definite must-see!!  Happy viewing!!

The Letter (5 stars)

It's no secret that Bette Davis is my all-time favorite actress.  I think she was positively brilliant in every role she ever played...she was especially good when she was being bad.  The Letter, from 1940, is a film in which Bette is particularly bad...which means her dramatic abilities shine brightly here.  Directed by William Wyler, and also starring Herbert Marshall, The Letter begins with several gunshots being fired and Bette, in the character of Leslie Crosbie, standing---gun in hand---over the body of a motionless man.

Leslie, along with her husband Robert (Herbert Marshall), lives on a rubber plantation in Singapore.  As Leslie tells her husband and the police, the dead man, family friend Jeff Hammond, had arrived at the plantation in a state of drunkenness and began making advances toward her.  Although she asked him to leave, he continued forcing his unwanted attentions upon her, and with self-protection in mind, she shot him. 

Robert Crosbie is caring and supportive and never once doubts his wife's story; Leslie's lawyer, however, begins to be suspicious, especially when his associate indicates that there is a letter from Leslie to Mr. Hammond, written on the day of his death.  That letter, which makes clear that Leslie's relationship with Jeff Hammond was not quite what she had revealed, is in the possession of Hammond's widow, who is willing to sell said letter for a price.

Is the letter legitimate?  What was Leslie's relationship with Jeff Hammond?  Did she really shoot him in self-defense?  Or is there more to it than that?  These are the questions which will play out in this fabulously-acted film.  Bette, who was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for this role, is totally stellar.  Herbert Marshall is very good as her faithful, loving husband.  And Gale Sondergaard, who portrays Hammond's widow, was spectacular...and she barely uttered ten words.  She spoke more with her eyes and facial expressions than the average person speaks with a hundred words.  To my way of thinking, she ought to have garnered a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Anyhow, The Letter is a definite must-see Bette Davis film.  It's out on DVD and should be quite easy to track down.  Happy viewing!!!