There are LOTS of spoilers in this review--please feel free to read them and skip this film! Please,...you'd be doing yourself a favor!!
It's pretty hard to find an MGM film of the era with as good a cast as this one AND still be a terrible film. In fact, if it weren't for the generally good production values, the film would merit a 1--the writing was just THAT bad! The fundamental problem is that many of the characters performed almost like they had schizophrenia!! In other words, they behaved so inconsistently and stupidly that being insane and unmedicated is one of the only explanations for the way they act. It is also possible that the writers wrote up a long list of plot devices and threw them into a hat and randomly pulled them out and put them in the script--it's that confusing and inconsistent. Let's discuss some of the characters to illustrate why this movie irritated me so much.
Robert Young initially hated his future sister-in-law (Joan Crawford). Their first meeting and most of their interactions through the first third of the movie are pretty volatile and this is all due to Young's actions and attitude. But, then, seemingly out of the blue, he professes his love for her and ardently pursues her despite the fact that BOTH of them are married and in-laws!! This just didn't make sense and seemed more like a story-line from THE COLBYS or DALLAS than from a movie!
There's also the young neighbor who loves the trumpet and seems like a nice guy. Joan buys him a new trumpet provided he agree to practice more quietly--an excellent way to handle the problem of having to listen to his playing. She treats him nicely but gives no indication she is sweet on this guy. So what does he do late in the film? Yep, he attacks her and says that "she wants him"!! Get that man some medication, please!
Margaret Sullavan played a very sweet person and was at least as attractive as Joan Crawford. So, of course, her husband chases Joan. The whole time this is happening, Margaret shows no indication that she knows her husband is a jerk. So, towards the very end, she runs into a burning house and tries to kill herself!! Huh?!?!
Fay Bainter has the most interesting role in the film. She is the matriarch of the rich family that Joan marries into. From the second she meets Joan, it is obvious that she detests her and does little to hide her scorn. She is totally judgmental, cold and cruel throughout the film--and I liked this character a lot--she was mean and fun to hate! In fact, she was so full of hate and evil that late in the film she burns Joan's and her husband's home to the ground and then admits doing it! So far, so good---but then it becomes totally INSANE! First, while she admits to this evil act, she suffers no consequences--no police or an admission to the Booby Hatch!!! If one of my family members burned down my home and admitted doing it, I'd at least be a bit more miffed than this family!!! This is dumb, but then comes the absolutely WORST moment--then, only minutes later when Joan has had enough and leaves for what appears for good (Fay's wish coming true), Ms. Bainter chases after her and begs her to stay and says she's sorry!! Huh?! Crack addicts behave more consistently than this!!
Then comes Melvin Douglas--Joan's husband. While he says he loves her and chases after her like a puppy, he also says and does nothing to stop his sister (Bainter) from mistreating his wife--nothing!! What a fine caring man, huh?! He only tells her off AFTER she burns down his home, but even this is muted. No wonder Joan had doubts as to whether or not she loves him!
Actually, Joan Crawford comes off best in the film. While I have never been a huge fan of hers, I must admit she did a competent job as a city playgirl who gives it all up in an attempt to radically change her soul-less life. It must have galled Joan to have absolutely no support from the rest of the cast--all competent actors who were hamstrung by terrible roles.
It's pretty hard to find an MGM film of the era with as good a cast as this one AND still be a terrible film. In fact, if it weren't for the generally good production values, the film would merit a 1--the writing was just THAT bad! The fundamental problem is that many of the characters performed almost like they had schizophrenia!! In other words, they behaved so inconsistently and stupidly that being insane and unmedicated is one of the only explanations for the way they act. It is also possible that the writers wrote up a long list of plot devices and threw them into a hat and randomly pulled them out and put them in the script--it's that confusing and inconsistent. Let's discuss some of the characters to illustrate why this movie irritated me so much.
Robert Young initially hated his future sister-in-law (Joan Crawford). Their first meeting and most of their interactions through the first third of the movie are pretty volatile and this is all due to Young's actions and attitude. But, then, seemingly out of the blue, he professes his love for her and ardently pursues her despite the fact that BOTH of them are married and in-laws!! This just didn't make sense and seemed more like a story-line from THE COLBYS or DALLAS than from a movie!
There's also the young neighbor who loves the trumpet and seems like a nice guy. Joan buys him a new trumpet provided he agree to practice more quietly--an excellent way to handle the problem of having to listen to his playing. She treats him nicely but gives no indication she is sweet on this guy. So what does he do late in the film? Yep, he attacks her and says that "she wants him"!! Get that man some medication, please!
Margaret Sullavan played a very sweet person and was at least as attractive as Joan Crawford. So, of course, her husband chases Joan. The whole time this is happening, Margaret shows no indication that she knows her husband is a jerk. So, towards the very end, she runs into a burning house and tries to kill herself!! Huh?!?!
Fay Bainter has the most interesting role in the film. She is the matriarch of the rich family that Joan marries into. From the second she meets Joan, it is obvious that she detests her and does little to hide her scorn. She is totally judgmental, cold and cruel throughout the film--and I liked this character a lot--she was mean and fun to hate! In fact, she was so full of hate and evil that late in the film she burns Joan's and her husband's home to the ground and then admits doing it! So far, so good---but then it becomes totally INSANE! First, while she admits to this evil act, she suffers no consequences--no police or an admission to the Booby Hatch!!! If one of my family members burned down my home and admitted doing it, I'd at least be a bit more miffed than this family!!! This is dumb, but then comes the absolutely WORST moment--then, only minutes later when Joan has had enough and leaves for what appears for good (Fay's wish coming true), Ms. Bainter chases after her and begs her to stay and says she's sorry!! Huh?! Crack addicts behave more consistently than this!!
Then comes Melvin Douglas--Joan's husband. While he says he loves her and chases after her like a puppy, he also says and does nothing to stop his sister (Bainter) from mistreating his wife--nothing!! What a fine caring man, huh?! He only tells her off AFTER she burns down his home, but even this is muted. No wonder Joan had doubts as to whether or not she loves him!
Actually, Joan Crawford comes off best in the film. While I have never been a huge fan of hers, I must admit she did a competent job as a city playgirl who gives it all up in an attempt to radically change her soul-less life. It must have galled Joan to have absolutely no support from the rest of the cast--all competent actors who were hamstrung by terrible roles.