Reviews (4)

A Respectful Adaptation
"All My Sons" would seem to have all the ingredients of a classic---superb Arthur Miller source material along with top-flight stars (Edward G. Robinson, Burt Lancaster) in the leads. And this adaptation is, in fact, impressively true to the Miller original. The cuts that have been made are reasonable, and the "opening out" (i.e., setting scenes in locales different from those indicated in the playscript to give visual verisimilitude)is tasteful and unobtrusive. Why, then, has this film languished in such relative obscurity?

Alas, the reason is simple: the performances of the two leads. I did not fully grasp this problem until I saw, in a Washington-area theater, "All My Sons" produced live with the wonderful actor Emmett Walsh (of "Blood Simple") in the Robinson role and David Fendig taking Lancaster's part (Chris). Where Walsh exploded in anguish, fury, and fear of discovery, Robinson only mutters thoughtfully. Where Fendig's entire life seemed to depend on whether or not his father committed this crime, Lancaster seems only mildly perturbed by the whole thing. The two Hollywood personalities generate an enormous amount of star power on screen, but never transcend their own personas---they do not disappear into their roles. We are always aware that we are watching Hollywood greats Robinson and Lancaster---not Joe Keller and his son Chris.

This movie is quite noteworthy as one of Hollywood's first attempts to take a serious American play seriously, and it is well worth watching on its own merits. But to really learn what "All My Sons" can be, see it on stage with a great cast---or rent the 1986 remake with James Whitmore as Joe and the marvelous Aidan Quinn as Chris. That production has problems of its own, but on the level of acting it delivers superbly.

Powerful drama of family destroyed by immoral businessman.
This is probably the most powerful and gripping drama I have ever seen. Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" invariably tops the critics'list of his plays, but I feel "All My Sons" is even greater. Edward G.Robinson is just marvelous as the businessman/father who OK's the release of defective airplane engine cylinders to prevent him from losing the lucrative government war contract. He makes his immoral act even more heinous by blaming his partner for it and letting him go to prison. He justified his actions as doing something that 'any man would do for his family'. When his duplicity is revealed and the horrible consequences of it are fully realized, you see Robinson go from a man on the top of the world to a man completely destroyed. This was, in my opinion, his very finest performance. Maidy Christian, as his wife, and Burt Lancaster, as his son, also give stellar performances.This is one of America's finest plays given its full justice on the screen.

"Ask Joe"
" You wanna know, ask Joe" is the phrase that Frank Conroy asks Lancaster in the jail visiting room. One of many riveting scenes in Arthur Miller,s masterpiece.

Edward G. Robinson,s talent is on display here and he is superb. What he can do with long dialogue pieces is truly amazing. A Fine cast includes , Howard Duff, Frank Conroy and Burt Lancaster produces fireworks..a must !!

A gem box.
An underrated gem. Robinson's tour de force performance should have won him an Oscar. Lancaster as the "second son" elicits sympathy and admiration. The women in the cast make you hang on every word and facial expression. The whole ensemble is a jewelry box and Miller's script is impeccable. The story builds and culminates to a dramatic conclusion that leaves you feeling as if you are a member of this family in crisis. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

"You remind me of a man." "What man?" "The man with the power...." Ah,so you remember the lovely nonsense of The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.This lighter-than-air comedy puts playboy writer Cary Grant in company with17-year-old schoolgirl Shirley Temple, although he's more interested in oldersister Myrna Loy. (She's as sober as a judge, and indeed is one.) The Oscar®- winning script by future bestselling novelist Sidney Sheldon boasts fun '40sslang, but the main draw is Grant's willingness to play the fool. His gift forslapstick shines when his aging bachelor decides to act like an inane teenagerin an effort to burst Shirley's fanciful image of him. As usual, Grant seems toconspire with the audience (watch his double takes in the background) in makinga somewhat standard movie into a giddy experience. Toss in deadpan Rudy Valleeas a sappy third wheel, and you've got a near-classic. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Funny, 40's Screwball Comedy
The Bachelor & The Bobby Soxer is an amusing, feather-light comedy about a playboy artist (Cary Grant) who to avoid jail is commended by a judge (Myrna Loy) to date her seventeen year old sister (Shirley Temple) who has a major crush on him. The move is made to curb the playboy excesses of Mr. Grant and to help get him out of Ms. Temple's system. Mr. Grant shows off all his comedic skills as he plays up the part by dressing like a teenager, adopts the slang of the day and makes a fool of himself in athletic events. For those use to seeing Ms. Temple as a preteen, will be surprised to see her as almost an adult. Ms. Loy is a bit too icy and stern in her role, but she's such a good actress, you can look past that. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Sidney Sheldon who would go on to create I Dream Of Jeannie and become a best-selling novelist.

"The Power of Whoo-doo!"
I rented this movie and watched it last night--hadn't seen it in close to thirty years since I was a little girl--and nearly freaked from the deja-vous experience of hearing the "You remind of a man/what man?/the man with the power/what power?/ the power of whoo-doo". And my older sister knowingly said, "Yes, TutorGal, this is where that comes from." I used to chant and chant that as a kid! So much for memory lane; now down to business about "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer." The movie has a bit of a slow start, with pretty static direction, up until the point when high school student Shirley Temple sees ladykiller artist Cary Grant at high school assembly delivering a lecture. Pow! she sees him as a knight in shining armor and is off to corral him. She doesn't know of course that big sis judge Myrna Loy has just had him in her courtroom and has formed a low opinion of his reputed womanizing. Shirley even finds a way to gain access to the unknowing Cary's apartment, where he then unjustly gets slammed with a jailbait charge. Hey, where's this going? Well, Myrna and her assistant DA beau Rudy Vallee decide that the only way for Shirley to get over Cary is for him to date her and probably bore her with his adult ways. And of course, nothing works out like anyone has planned, least of all smug Myrna. As I wrote above, the movie really picks up after about 15-20 minutes and then becomes quite hilarious, with Rudy Vallee particularly good as an eccentric WASP, the sort of thing he does so well . Cary appears to be genuinely enjoying himself, and Shirley has certainly grown to be a real cutie. Myrna's okay, but nothing spectacular this time around. Make a date to watch "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer" and see the whoo-doo first hand!

Witty and Fun
I simply adore this movie. It's pure silliness and you'll want to watch it with a friend so that you can occasionally tell them "You remind me of a man..." Pick it up to see a teenage Shirley Temple and to laugh out loud at the wit and ridiculousness of it all. A guaranteed smile. :0) If you like this, you'll want to watch "I was a Male War Bride" as well.

Amiable, Slight
A rather uninspired but harmless enough movie that goes around the world and back again to establish its goofy premise. Cary Grant gets many chances to show off his flair for physical comedy, Shirley Temple is no less grating as a young adult than she was as a child, and Myrna Loy (who I watched this for) is in the movie a lot, but never given very much to do.

Grant fans will probably enjoy this one, but fans of Loy can find vehicles that better display her talents.

Grade: B-

1940's Revealed
Want some insight into what titillated movie-goers in the post-war 1940's? This 1947 RKO production is a good place to start. There's the marquee value of a seductively handsome Cary Grant coupled with that spunky symbol of all-American innocence Shirley Temple, enough at the time to draw in ticket-buying throngs with its naughty innuendo of daring departure and forbidden pleasure. In fact, the underage subtext lingers beneath much of the movie's plot and humorous settings, but in a totally innocent manner, proving that this is not yet the more permissive 1960's. One slip, however, and this light-hearted souffle could easily have become burnt-toast of the most tasteless variety. Fortunately, there are no slips.

Once the pace picks up, this comedy sparkles as brightly as any other Cary Grant madcap, which is to say, about as good as comedy gets. The night club scene is an absolute triumph of timing, staging, and scripting. The laughs build as the party table becomes more and more chaotic, interrupted by one petty annoyance after another, finally reducing the worldly Grant to speechless exasperation. This is the type of soaring comedic architecture that requires real artistry, but has been sadly replaced in contemporary film by a dumbed- down world of bathroom jokes, insult gags, and other cheap forms of humor that appeal mainly to juveniles. The movie itself, directed by an unheralded Irving Reis, is literally brimful of bounce and charm, leaving no one in doubt that the big war is over and America is ready for the future even if its libido is showing. With: a slyly endearing Ray Collins, a bemusedly prim Myrna Loy, a pompously befuddled Rudy Vallee, and a well-deserved Oscar for writer Sidney Sheldon, along with a final scene that could not be more apt. Despite the shift in public mores, audiences now as then should find this a highly entertaining ninety minutes of expert movie-making. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Henry Fonda
I got this movie for Lucille and this is different material from Lucy. In this she effectively plays a cold hearted woman. You're drawn to believe she's faking it. But she is immensely cruel in this movie and why Henry Fonda's character puts up with her is beyond me. This was a different role for Henry too. This isn't a depression or western role. He plays an extremely shy boy and at times comes across as very lovable. After watching this it made me a fan of him. Before I never cared much for him.

HENRY IS KINDA FONDA LUCY...
In 1942, 31 year-old Lucille Ball got her first major dramatic role as Gloria Lyons, the selfish, arrogant moll of Barton McLane. Lucy is crippled as a result of McLane slapping her around and finds a devoted admirer in Henry Fonda as "Little Pinks"... Lucy was very excited about acquiring this part and even went to Charles Laughton and his wife Elsa Lanchester for advice on how to interpret Gloria. Henry Fonda wasn't impressed with Ball's acting style at all and he would make statements such as "You're not going to play her like THAT -- are you"? - much to Lucy's intimidation and dismay. Incredibly, Lucy had already been in Hollywood for 9 years when this meaty role was offered her. Ball received mostly positive reviews from the critics, but the movie was not a financial success at the box-office. Charming, touching and often funny in parts, this Damon Runyon vehicle wavers from good to too sticky. Although I'm a tried-and-true Lucy fan, I'm in total agreement ... that this IS a rather oddball film. THE BIG STREET has long been hailed as Lucy's best dramatic venture but I much prefer her serious performances in LURED (1947), THE DARK CORNER (1946) & DANCE, GIRL, DANCE (1940)...

Lucy as a dramatic actress!
This is a wonderful movie if you are interested in seeing a different side of Lucille Ball. She is absolutely wonderful, yet there is not a single thing funny about her character. She is cold, mean, and stubborn...but Lucy potrays the character brilliantly. you can truly see her talent as a dramatic actress in this movie. It's a tear jerker and a must for all Lucy fans.

An Odd Film
There are very few words that can properly discribe this movie. Odd tops that list. However, odd doesn't neccessarily mean bad. The story centers around a young star-struck bus-boy nicknamed "Pink" who is infatuated by glamours nightclub-singer Gloria Lions (Lucille Ball). In a strange and bizzare set of events Mrs. Lions loses the use of her lower extremities. Pink takes the rude Mrs. Lions into his home to help her recouperate. Deciding she doesn't like the cold of New York, Mrs. Lions (often reffered to as "Your Majesty") makes Pink push her to Florida in her wheelchair. Once down there Gloria tries to attract the intrest of the local billonair. In a final attempt to cheer up Mrs. Lions, Pink throws her a large party.

For the most part this is a very predictable film. Except for, of course, the sudden lapses of sanity (like the 1000+ mile hike from New York to Florida). Despite that, however, it makes for an enjoyable film.

One of the best dramas Lucille Ball ever made.
Lucille Ball's performance shines in this intense drama. You'll not find the bumbling clown she is known for in the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful and tender love story following 2 generations
A little girl is brought into a house the day her parents died in a tragic accident. She is raised by a cruel stepsister, however she is treated kindly by her two stepbrothers. The story unfolds through their lives and the lives of their children. It is a story about love and missed opportunities and the value opening your heart and not missing out on the beauty life has to offer because of fear of emotional hurt. I hope you will enjoy this wonderful classic movie. The cast does a fine job, especially David Niven. If you are a David Niven fan you will definitely enjoy this movie.

A film about true love lost and about to happen again.
A beautifully acted movie with a love story of long ago interspersed with a present one. David Niven, Teresa Wright, Evelyn Keyes and Farley Granger play the leads and you watch their development in great hope that history will not repeat itself a second time. This film, made in 1948, is set in World War II London. The pressing crisis of the war threatens the one romance while the one from long ago was threatened by a different force. You will enjoy this movie tremendously -- I highly recommend it! ... Read more