4 reviews
This is a taut, well written, social drama. The performances are solid and the editing and direction are brisk.
I have waited over 50 years to see this, now finally in 2015 out on DVD from a TV print that is 20 minutes shorn of its full length, but at 52 minutes does not seem to be missing any of its core.
I won't try to describe the narrative other than to say this is the Madame X scenario, where the Madame wins and does not die to correct her moral lapses. There is even a dance shared with the son given up who does not know he is dancing with his mother, that made it into the 1946 Madame X take-off, To Each His Own, which finally won an Oscar for this female lead type (Olivia de Havilland in this case).
The decade between 1935 and 1945 allowed all studios to submit to the Academy their "best" in the four audio categories (song, sound, original score, scoring) and be guaranteed an Oscar nom, regardless of the quality of the film or the offering within the category. This, like most Republic offerings during the period, is one of those.
The score which won the nomination is mediocre and pedestrian, perfectly acceptable for a B film, but in no way remarkable. It only appears in the following scenes: Main Title and Intro; Remembrance of son; Portia prepares to go out; Clients; Home Visit; Before the Judge; Party; Murder; End Title.
To be commended are veteran character actress, Ruth Connelly, as Portia's assistant, and Frieda Inescourt herself in a stellar performance.
Now available on DVD for the first time. Worth a watch.
I have waited over 50 years to see this, now finally in 2015 out on DVD from a TV print that is 20 minutes shorn of its full length, but at 52 minutes does not seem to be missing any of its core.
I won't try to describe the narrative other than to say this is the Madame X scenario, where the Madame wins and does not die to correct her moral lapses. There is even a dance shared with the son given up who does not know he is dancing with his mother, that made it into the 1946 Madame X take-off, To Each His Own, which finally won an Oscar for this female lead type (Olivia de Havilland in this case).
The decade between 1935 and 1945 allowed all studios to submit to the Academy their "best" in the four audio categories (song, sound, original score, scoring) and be guaranteed an Oscar nom, regardless of the quality of the film or the offering within the category. This, like most Republic offerings during the period, is one of those.
The score which won the nomination is mediocre and pedestrian, perfectly acceptable for a B film, but in no way remarkable. It only appears in the following scenes: Main Title and Intro; Remembrance of son; Portia prepares to go out; Clients; Home Visit; Before the Judge; Party; Murder; End Title.
To be commended are veteran character actress, Ruth Connelly, as Portia's assistant, and Frieda Inescourt herself in a stellar performance.
Now available on DVD for the first time. Worth a watch.
- mark.waltz
- May 25, 2015
- Permalink
- yrkconnors-1
- Feb 28, 2015
- Permalink
I was not expecting anything more than a B picture before sitting down to this 52 minute copy. Something has been removed from the original film, as I noted the truncated running time. However, this film and the players, especially Frieda Inescort, punches above its weight class.
Being cut down in length, apparently to fit into TV scheduling, makes the story tight and on point. Inescort carries the film but with good support from actors like Abel, Donnelly, Kolb and Hamilton. Do yourself a favor and don't read the story line, just take the time to watch this short, but very effective 1937 social drama.
If you do, you will likely wonder, as I do now, how Frieda Inescort did not become a bigger film star.
Being cut down in length, apparently to fit into TV scheduling, makes the story tight and on point. Inescort carries the film but with good support from actors like Abel, Donnelly, Kolb and Hamilton. Do yourself a favor and don't read the story line, just take the time to watch this short, but very effective 1937 social drama.
If you do, you will likely wonder, as I do now, how Frieda Inescort did not become a bigger film star.