Customer Reviews

Morning Glory [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Christopher Reeve does a wonderful job in this one.

Set in the early 1940s, Reeve plays an ex-con who spend 5 years in prison for killing a prostitute. He wanders into a small town, searching for work. He answers an add in the newspaper by a woman advertizing for a "husband" to assist her in maintaining her farm and in raising her children. He works on the farm and eventually does marry her.

However, a local lady of questionable virtue takes an interest in him, which he rejects. When she is found murdered, he is arrested for the crime. What follows is a courtroom drama reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird in which the true murderer and the secrets of the town are revealed.

I found one small error in the story. It features a Hank Williams, Sr. song, "Your Cheating Heart," although that song was not released until about 10 years after the date in which the movie is set.

Overall, the film is quite enjoyable, although it does contain some rough language and a couple of sexually suggestive scenes. It is well worth obtaining if you can locate it.

Katharine Hepburn won her first Academy Award for her portrayal of Eve Lovelace (nee Ada Love), a star struck girl who comes to the big city to be a star. The party scene in which a drunk Lovelace does Hamlet's soliloquy and the balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet is usually cited as means of an explanation for why she won. But the quintessential Hepburn scene is when she arrives at the office of the successful Broadway producer and charms an old English character actor. Her is the quick, clipped speech that would become so caricatured down the road and it is far and away the best scene it the film.

The last half of the film resorts to the old chestnut of our young heroine having to go on opening night, where she becomes a star. The problem is there is no proof of the pudding here. We hear people talking about how wonderful Eve is on stage, but we see none of her performance. The film gives us indications of her talent but totally ignores her moment of triumph in favor of people talking about it instead. It is useful to remember that Hepburn also made "Little Women" the same year as "Morning Glory" and that certainly her body of work that year was taken into consideration (her Jo March won the prize at Cannes that year I believe-the closest contemporary parallel would probably be Diane Keaton who did "Annie Hall" and "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" the same year, which you must agree is certainly an indication of range).

The first half would get 4 stars the last half 2 stars, and that's how we get to 3. Simple mathematics.

Once you watch this film you should then screen Hepburn in "Stage Door," the climax of which certainly provides what is missing from "Morning Glory." Within 15 minutes of that particular film you see Hepburn play a bad actress and a very good actress. The transformation is stunning and certainly integral to that film in a way it would not be to this one. Given that when she made "Stage Door" Hepburn was considered Box Office Poison, it is interesting to look at this pair of films as a set. "Morning Glory" jump started Hepburn's career, and "Stage Door" heralded her revival. So I highly recommend you watch the two films as a double feature.

Katherine Hepburn's first Oscar winning role is the perfect introduction to her personality and talent. An aristocratic, beautiful girl from New England takes the entertainment world by storm with her unique charm and iron resolve. Sound familiar? The "I don't wear cheap furs" scene had me choking with laughter, along with what I call the "drunken best of Shakespeare" scene where she launches into a chamgagne-fueled random explosion of highlights from "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet" at a party for top theatre execs.

I just finished watching this movie, and I was sadly dissapointed. First off, let me say that I am a HUGE fan of Lavryle Spencer. I own every single one of her books, and have read each one at least twice. (I've read my favorite, Forgiving, at least a dozen times).
Morning Glory was an excellent book, with everything a person could want: real characters, a interesting historical setting, and a captivating plot. The movie, however, didn't feel like it ever "got started". The characters felt flat, and many of my favorite parts from the book were missing. Also, many of the characters were completely changed. For instance, in the book, Will's lawyer was brilliant, if a little unprofessional looking. In the movie, he was perfectly polished.

*Spoiler warning!*
Much of the plot was also changed: In the movie, Lula Peak was having an affair with the sheriff, Reese Goodlow, but in the book, she was carrying on with Harley Overmire. Also, in the book, her murder (by Harley Overmire) made a lot more sense, as she was blackmailing him because she was pregnant with his child. This was completely missing from the movie.
The fact that Will never went to war in the movie really upset me. I think him becoming a war hero developed his character a lot.
Also, when Lula approaches Will in the library, he actually lets her kiss him. In the book, he immediately shoved him away. It made Will seem less of a good man than he is, and made me not like him as much.

Read the book! It's much better.

Final note: the box for this movie give a PG rating. I think it should be at least a PG-13 because of the sexually suggestive scenes.

Talk about a HUGE disappointment. I was THRILLED to hear that they made a movie of my favorite book but the movie is a joke! How can a book and a movie be so totally different? Did the producers of this movie actually read the book first? Did LaVyrle Spencer have any say in it at all? I'd love to see someone else redo the movie based on the actual book this time!

I watched this movie 3 times before I returned it to the video store! I only wish I had purchased the film the day I returned it! Now, it's not available and I'm sad! The scene where he placed his hands in the basin of water and realized it was clean, warm water was absolutely heart wrenching. For me, that scene made the whole movie. I will be so glad when it's released for purchase!

I rented this film several years ago and truly enjoyed it. The post depression era was acurately depicted not only in scenery but in mannerisms. There was a quality of honor and integrity in the characters that is rarely seen in films today. Both Reeves and his co-star did a fabulous job with their portrayals. I wish more films of this caliber were made.

"Morning Glory" is probably a movie that would be a lot harder to come across (and it isn't that easy to find as it is) if it weren't the movie for which Katherine Hepburn won her first Oscar. After watching it with mixed feelings the other night, it dawned on me that there is actually a pretty good facet to this movie. There are three main female characters and each of them gives us a portrait of a self-confident woman. What is interesting is that each of them gets their confidence from a different source. The first woman we are introduced to is an established movie star whose self-confidence arises from her career. She knows she will succeed because she has already done so repeatedly. The next woman we are introduced to is self-confident because she is having an affair with the producer. She knows she will succeed because her lover owes it to her. The last woman we meet is Hepburn's character whose self-confidence arises solely from her belief in herself. She knows she will succeed merely because she cannot envision any other outcome.

As I pondered the meaning of "Morning Glory", I came to understand that the writers and directors wanted to show that attitude IS the key to success. While the established star could lose her self-confidence with a series of flops and the gold-digger could find herself replaced by a new paramour, Hepburn's attitude would (and DID) carry her farther. While the acting, directing and other aspects gave me the impression that this was a "3 Star" movie at best, the subtle message made me realize that it actually deserved a "4 Star" rating.

Katharine Hepburn delivers a great performance in this otherwise routine movie. The story is rather trite, and mundane and just when there is hope for a good picture it ends. However the scene where Ms. Hepburn recites Hamlet's soliloquy and then the does the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet is worth seeing even if you must sit through the rest of the movie.

I rented this film several years ago and truly enjoyed it. The post depression era was acurately depicted not only in scenery but in mannerisms. There was a quality of honor and integrity in the characters that is rarely seen in films today. Both Reeves and his co-star did a fabulous job with their portrayals. I wish more films of this caliber were made.