Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a star is born, February 14, 2003
This was John Garfield's first part in a film, and it made him an overnight star; the audience loved him, and he broke the mold of the leading man image, with his surly arrogance, and brooding look. The film also changes tone from a sweet family film, to a melodrama, when he makes his entrance 1/3 of the way into the plot. He plays a talented but down-and-out pianist, a man whose attitude makes him a perennial loser. Based on a Cosmopolitan Magazine story, "Sister Act", by Fannie Hurst, and directed by Michael Curtiz, it features the lovely Lane sisters, Gale Page, and Claude Rains, as a musical family that also includes May Robson as the very amusing "Aunt Etta".
Priscilla Lane is the sister with the central part, as she is the one in the love triangle between Garfield, and Jeffery Lynn. Lynn is excellent, and had the looks that the movie studio thought would assure him stardom, but though he was in several fine films, seldom had top billing in them. Nominated for the 1938 Oscars in the categories of Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Garfield), Best Screenplay and Sound, it has a fine Max Steiner score, a few musical numbers, and wonderful performances. It is an entertaining classic which is sometimes touching, always charming, and a must for Garfield fans.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Hello Limp!" "Hello Deetz.", December 5, 2004
Four Daughters is the story of the Lemp family, a family of musicians living in a university town, their young boarder named Felix Detz, and his friend the tragic loner, Mickey Borden, who enters into their lives. The film follows their relationships, friendships, and romances as they try to find out what will make them, and each other, truly happy.
For me, in terms of what I love in a film, this is a nearly perfect movie, nothing an extra half hour and some plot retinkering couldn't fix. It's a poignant and lively romantic drama, has an amazing ensemble of actors who all have outstanding ooze-off-the-screen chemistry, and every scene is a joy to watch because these actors and director Michael Curtiz knew how to work a shot and fill it up with life, just life, lots of life. Classic flicks excel at this kind of mis-en-scene almost theatrical "teamwork", used for even your most ordinary shot in the most ordinary movie, and it's something that, to our detriment, can be found in nary an American film these days.
The film has extremely sharp and clever dialogue, a story that's emotionally compelling and lucid, and very complex, vivid characters considering how short the movie is (1 hr, 30 min) and how convoluted it is (very!). The part of Mickey is the standout thundercloud character in what is a witty romantic ensemble film, and it's easy to see how John Garfield's performance catapaulted him to stardom. But the filmmakers didn't seem to know what to do with Mickey and I don't think give the character his proper dues. All would have been fine if they'd added a little more time to the film, taken the more complex route for some plot elements involving Mickey, and taken some stuff out.
Still, the enigmatic and tragic Mickey is a wonderful, deep character and only adds to the colors and shades of life this film presents to us. Personally my favorites in the film are the luminous Priscilla Lane and very gorgeous and dashing Jeffrey Lynn. They both play very jolly young people in love and absolutely glow onscreen, and their repartee is delightful. Claude Rains is a gem bringing a paternal stability and grace to the film.
All in all it's a beautiful, simple film about life that is sheer joy to watch.
(And someone could seriously write a paper on how the flick is an analogy of, statement about, and big screen balm for the Depression and The New Deal. It speaks a lot about accentuating the positive and the nature of hope and pluck.)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A standout amongst the time period, May 26, 2002
By A Customer
So you start this movie thinking it's going to be another happy go lucky late 1930's flick with singing and romance. everything is going nicely, with everyone headed towards a predictable ending when all of a sudden, John Garfield shows up, exuding sex appeal and bringing in a character who seems awfully out of time, in a very good and interesting way. then you're watching a different movie. this flick is out of its genre, and what was an easily forgettable movie becomes something very different. Unfortunately, cooler heads prevail, and the young Lemp daughter, who followed her heart and ran off with Garfield's self loathing Mickey, returns to her safe home and the stable mediocre composer. Oh well. I love this movie anyway, for it's entertaining, if sometimes sad, story. A depression era picture in that it takes place in a happy town, with a happy family who are obviously not hit by hard financial times, (except for Mickey, but he's never had good luck anyway) and actually doing well. The story never gets too serious or realistic. Watch it for John Garfield. Some say he's the best part of the film (my view) or that he's the one thing that brings it all down, so there's a contraversy going on. Judge for yourself, or have a party and debate with friends. either way, the guy did go on to have a pretty excellent career, until he was labeled a communist and died prematurely of a heart attack. Check him out when he was new and different.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
