vleonica-44-795280
How does one pick their favorite Ronald Colman film; any film that contains a speech that he recites doubles it's pleasure for me. This particular is film is not only well written, as were most of Colman's films, but it has a strong plot & story which clearly defines the inner feelings of it's character's & their beliefs, which, and adding to that aspect, as it should be in real life, show that both, no matter how strong, not cast in stone. Adding even greater value are great performers, Jean Arthur, Cary Grant (who improved greatly as he matured,) and one of my favorite character actors, Edgar Buchanan who thoroughly & well play their parts to the utmost. Each is quite convincing in their role & this aspect follows through for all the actors. The film is superb in it's believability, the casting & direction, and every moment was & still is perfect, even the comedic relief is superb. And even today 72 years later, and after a multitude of personal viewings, this fine film holds it own. My god is this film that old, yikes. Well that just proves how great this film is. One never tires of it, & isn't the what proves it's worth. ;-)
AaronCapenBanner
George Stevens directed this comedy/drama starring Jean Arthur as Nora Shelley, who owns a boarding house in New England where she is staying, along with noted Harvard Law School professor Michael LightCap(played by Ronald Colman) who is working on a book. Joining them is Leopold Dilg(played by Cary Grant) who is said to be the gardener, but in reality is an escaped prisoner accused of arson and murder regarding a reputedly unsafe factory. Leopold claims his innocence, and when the professor gets wind of this, resolves to help him prove it by conducting his own investigation... Thoughtful and smart film with a good cast and involving story, with a most subdued performance from Grant(which makes for a welcome change!) Well worth seeking out.
Carl Ian Schwartz
Why were we fighting against he Axis? Until quite recently, this country stood for the rule of law. Under the guise of a love triangle, and scripted by Irwin Shaw, this wonderful film shows what America once stood for against the the caprice, injustice, and atrocity that characterized our enemies. As the plot unfolds, the rule of law and fact becomes clearer and ultimately prevails against fear manipulated through tainted journalism.There'a another film, released in England a year later, entitled "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp." It's thesis is that you lose a war when you lose your national values and adopt those of your enemies.Frank Capra directed a major series of films during World War II--"Why We Fight." These two films put a personal, home-front slant on it.
zetes
An uneasy mixture of comedy and drama. Jean Arthur is mixed up in a love triangle with an escaped convict (Cary Grant, totally miscast) and a law professor about to be appointed to the Supreme Court (Ronald Colman, too British to be this character). Grant has been accused (and actually convicted) of burning down a factory and killing a man. He claims he's innocent, despite being a famous rabble-rouser. Arthur, who is working as a secretary for Coleman, hides Grant in her cabin and slowly tries to convince Colman to help with the injustice of the situation. It's a very awkwardly plotted film, and the attempts at comedy fall flat. I never really believed Grant as a rabble-rouser, and he just can't seem to handle the dramatic angle of the picture at all. Colman is pretty much the opposite. The film basically leaves him out of the comedy. Neither of the actors' romantic intentions come off as believable. Well, I guess they are believable in that anyone would want Jean Arthur, but it just doesn't fit in with the social issues angle. Pretty much nothing about it works besides Arthur. In my mind she can do no wrong. It isn't an especially bothersome picture to watch, really, even with all its problems, but it's far from good.
AD
