Customer Reviews

Forever Female [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's William Holden night, here at Chez Sixpack... Here, Holden stars as a brash, principled playwright who hitches his star to a famous-but-fading broadway star, played by Ginger Rogers. Rogers's Beatrice Page is an interesting character -- she's at the top of her game, but only for as long as she can keep up appearances and fend off her younger rivals. Among these is a chirpy, headstrong, would-be starlet (played by Pat Crowley) who attaches herself to Holden's coattails, at first out of mere opportunism, and then for true love. The Holden character is a bit too mannered -- too anchored in the old, pre-'60s fixation with The Moody Writer as a great dramatic character; Crowley is herself a bit irritating as well -- this was supposed to be her big breakout role, but she's a bit too perky and Annette Funicello-ish, and may get on your nerves. At the heart of this film, then, is Ginger Rogers, along with Paul Douglas as her ex-husband, a Broadway producer who's still not-so-secretly in love with her. His career is in limbo because he can't move on, and he continues to pick plays based solely on whether they'll serve as vehicles for Bea's continued fame. Their relationship is deeply layered and consistently interesting, as is the underlying theme of how female actors must keep up appearances and pursue an impossible ideal of youth. Plus, Paul Douglas is such a great character actor -- I love watching him in just about anything! -- and seeing Rogers star in a relatively unsympathetic role is pretty unusual as well. The portrayal of the vanity and backstage whispering that makes up the theater scene is territory that's been covered elsewhere, but it gets a pretty good airing here, in this well-paced, entertaining film. Recommended.

Bill Holden plays a young supermarket employee who writes a play about a young girl and her forceful mother; later it is produced by Paul Douglas for his ageing actress wife, Ginger Rogers. Lots of bright lines - with inside jokes for show people - coupled with snappy supporting performances by Patricia Crowley, James Gleason, George Reeves and, in an entertaining cameo, Marjorie Rambeau - playing herself - make for an entertaining 93 minutes. The then 42 year-old Rogers overacts a tad, but not enough to make the viewer wince. In an excellent portrayal, Patricia Crowley seems to play Eve to Ginger's Margo in this fast-paced and funny adaptation of Sir James Barrie's play ROSALIND. Modernised to 1953 standards and given several twists, it seems purposely reminiscent of ALL ABOUT EVE - in a harmless, light-hearted way.

While Holden and Rogers, the established stars of the picture, do well in their parts, it is Pat Crowley as the ingenue who really shines. This is one of those films in which you just shake your head while you watch a dumbkopf like Holden's character totally lose interest in Sally for the glamour of Beatrice. He not only ruins his love life, he ruins his art as well. A terrific love story and a well-made film.

What can I say, I adore Paul Douglas. This is a fun film, always excepting the supremely annoying performance of Pat Crowley (I think time has proven she was not the next great thing). But MUCH to like here and as always tremendous chemistry between Douglas and whatever female star he was paired with, in this case Ginger Rogers. Their scenes together are wonderful. Light, funny and worth the viewing.

this movie is great, William Holden, the great actor that he is plays a wonderful part. I love watching him in any movie. I have most of his movies(collectable). highly recommend!