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Superbly cast film
posted by genplant29STAFFMOD on July 30, 2019 at 6:35 AM
The casting for this movie, and the high quality of performances, really is spot-on, and stands out every viewing. From - of course - the three leads (Davis, Henreid, Rains), to Gladys Cooper as Charlotte's mother, Ilka Chase as C's sister-in-law, Bonita Granville as C's niece, Janis Wilson (who I realize many find OTT, though I've always loved her and think she does a terrific job) as Jerry's daughter Tina, Mary Wickes https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20624-mary-wickes/discuss/5d3f6c4834e1525defe99820?language=en-US as nurse Dora, Lee Patrick as a friend made on the cruise, Katharine Alexander as Miss Trask at the sanitarium, Frank Puglia as the taxi driver - and pretty much everyone else.
Of the mentioned individuals, I always find the mother-daughter characters that Ilka Chase and Bonita Granville portray, as well as the character that Mary Wickes portrays, especially a pleasure, anytime they're on screen. Each woman gives a beautifully nuanced entirely believable appealing performance, that perfectly "nails" a fully dimensional character. Regarding Granville's character, spunky niece June, in a different young actress' hands she could, and likely would, have been strictly a bullying jerk, though as portrayed by ever-superb Granville she's somehow actually thoroughly likeable and delightful, and you realize she simply has a misguided sense of humour.
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Reply by rudely_murray
on July 30, 2019 at 6:49 AM
One of my favourite Bette Davis films and this is largely down to the superb cast working alongside her. Gladys Cooper in particular is brilliant as one of the screen's great monstrous mothers.
I must confess I fall on the negative side of the fence re Janis Wilson, who is nails on a chalkboard to me in this film... that's a minor complaint, however, as everybody else is quite marvellous.
Reply by genplant29
on July 30, 2019 at 7:06 AM
I re-watched this in recent hours, first time in a few or so years. This movie sure does continue to "wear" outstandingly.
God forbid Gladys Cooper's destructively willful Mrs. Vale in this! What a marvelous performance! Mrs. Vale is one seriously awful piece of work - quite the soul-sucking vampire - though in her mind she no doubt somehow actually believes she's a good mother!
Reply by bratface
on July 30, 2019 at 4:59 PM
Love this film, mainly because of Davis. I love all of her early films.
Reply by barrymost
on October 28, 2020 at 4:12 PM
Just gave this a watch the other night. Man, what an exceptional piece of film-making! I can certainly see why it's regarded as one of Bette Davis' greatest films. Claude Rains stood out to me - I've always enjoyed him in practically anything. As for Bette Davis, I have watched more of her films in recent months than I ever have before, and find myself liking her more than I ever thought I would!
Reply by tmdb53400018
on October 28, 2020 at 9:08 PM
I recall this as being a very good film. Bette is up to her usual standard in it, but yes, maybe the supporting cast makes it excel more than she does. The Claude comes off too. I agree with barry that he is effective in most every film I've ever seen him in.