Description

A fanciful, O. Henryesque tale set in New York City during World War II. A shy, lonely woman and a dashing soldier from Tennessee meet in the rain late one afternoon, and end up falling in love. But Fate threatens to come between them ... Read more

Reviews (1)

UNDERRATED
Ben Hecht wrote, produced and with the excellent cinematographer Lee Garmes, directed this night-life story about a poor clerk (John Qualen) who is going to kill himself if he can't get $3,000, and and a drunken playwright (Thomas Mitchell) who takes him in charge. The playwright thinks that since sharp gamblers always let you win at poker before they trim you & the trick is to leave the game early............ Two young lovers complicated the playwright's plan. Offbeat and ahead of its time, this Hecht production is surely one of the most unheralded fine films ever to come out of Hollywood (I suspect because 1939 was THE greatest year the movies ever knew and there was too much compitition). Columbia mogul Harry Cohn hand-picked the lovely Hayworth (as a call girl!) and the performances by Mitchell (as a marvelous lush) and Fairbanks are captivating ; Hecht's dialogue sparkles with poetic irony. It's an unpredictable Broadway saga on the screen, filmed with a fast pace and panache. Hecht's character's talk too much, but Hecht was a compulsive gambler himself, and there's a genial, original spirit to this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For particular tastes only
This is one of those peculiar films in which you can't tell what is serious and what is a send up, in which the younger actors, who can't really act, are playing it completely straight and the older actors, all strange and wonderful veterans such as Judith Anderson, seem to be doing everything tongue in cheek. Ben Hecht's script is full of self-consciously poetic lines which manage to be both ridiculous and oddly beautiful at the same time. The backstage scenes are the stereotype of how people who don't work in theatre think it would be if they could see it as insiders while simultaneously representing quite accurately the rhythms and odd normality of theatrical life, albeit reflected in a slightly distorted mirror. It's also a nice chance to look at how surrealist art was absorbed into the mainstream and became the characteristic feature of theatrical design in the '40s as there are many scenes showing the title ballet. If you like Judith Anderson, have an interest in theatre history, are fascinated by messes made by talented people (ie Ben Hecht), are a fan of surrealism and have a bit of patience, this movie is a find. It certainly isn't like much you've ever seen before. If you don't fit any of the above, steer clear of this film; you'll be bored to tears.

The music is by George Antheil!!!
A hauntingly beautiful musical theme runs throughout this simple minded ballet-company psycho thriller. The music turns out to be by the former enfante terrible of modern music, Brooklyn's own George Antheil. His little post-romantic pavanne ( which Rachmaninoff could not have done any better) is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever to come out of a movie. The "star" of the film, Ivan Kirov, who plays Strange Ivan Sanine never appeared in a film before or since. He did appear however, as a guest on the You Bet Your Life Show with Groucho Marx a few years later (didn't win though). To complete the astonishing craziness in this Ben Hecht- directed, Judith Anderson- starring mish mash: supporting actor Michael Chehkov is the nephew of the Russian playwright Anton Chehkov! ... Read more