How could I not review this film after Saturday's post? The
two films are among the best of Bette Davis’ long and storied career; both
being outside of her usual comfort zone. There is more of the stage in these two films
than there is of Hollywood.
In this wonderful film adaptation of Paddy Chayefsky
teleplay, Gore Vidal has created a concise version of a common problem; where do
we fit in as individuals when compared to the happiness of those around us?
Director Richard Brooks did a superb job with this movie; but then again, look
at the talent he had to work with!
Bette Davis plays Agnes Hurley; a woman who is a romantic at
heart yet faced with the reality of her life married to Tom Hurley; played by
Ernest Borgnine; fresh from his Academy Award winning performance as “Marty” in
the film of the same name; which was also written by Paddy Chayefsky. Tom
drives a taxi cab, and with a little bit of luck; and some time; he hopes to
own his own taxi someday soon.
But fate has a way of working its own way with things and
accordingly, Agnes and Tom’s daughter Jane; played by Debbie Reynolds in her
screen debut; has planned to be married to her boyfriend Ralph; played by Rod
Taylor. When she tells her parents of her plans at breakfast a chain of events
ensues which expose not only the shortcomings felt by Agnes in her own life; but
the desperation Tom feels when he thinks that his dream of owning his own cab
may be threatened by the expense of a lavish wedding for his daughter.
On the one hand Agnes feels cheated at never having had a
real wedding of her own; while Tom feels trapped by an expectation that will
derail his dreams; as well as making him aware of just how unhappy his wife may
be over events of the past. Complicating matters is the presence of Uncle Jack
Conlon; played with the usual brilliance of Barry Fitzgerald.
This film is one of those gems that seem to get lost in the
greater array of older “classical” films. It’s more cerebral than the usual
fare offered up by the gangster films of the 1930’s; or the romances and war
films of the 1940’s and 1950’s. This type of film is timeless in its subject
matter. People dealing with their own emotions, while trying to understand the
emotional needs of those around them, is a subject which will never grow old. This
is an excellent film.
Here's one of my trophies - it hangs on the wall of my TV room. He read the draft off a review I did of his book and actually sent this back to me! It is one of my treasured possessions
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