The Country Girl (1954)
Country: US
Technical: bw 104m
Director: George Seaton
Cast: William Holden, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby
Synopsis:
A theatre director stakes his reputation on a washed-up former star to play the lead in his new musical bucolic. In doing his utmost to bolster the ego of his 'on the wagon' liability, he misjudges the balance of power between his actor and the latter's wife, a steadfast country girl who is also trying to hold him together in her way.
Review:
There are a couple of problems with this film, Seaton's own adaptation of a Clifford Odets play. The obvious one is exactly that: it talks, talks, talks, and is a dense human drama set in a very theatrical context. The second is the casting. Crosby's baggage as a light comedy actor, while making sense in terms of the part within the film, jars with the very serious material thrust upon him, though he does try. The real revelation is Kelly, who of course got the Oscar, and who manages to look frumpy, cantankerous and yet vulnerable for much of the movie.
Country: US
Technical: bw 104m
Director: George Seaton
Cast: William Holden, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby
Synopsis:
A theatre director stakes his reputation on a washed-up former star to play the lead in his new musical bucolic. In doing his utmost to bolster the ego of his 'on the wagon' liability, he misjudges the balance of power between his actor and the latter's wife, a steadfast country girl who is also trying to hold him together in her way.
Review:
There are a couple of problems with this film, Seaton's own adaptation of a Clifford Odets play. The obvious one is exactly that: it talks, talks, talks, and is a dense human drama set in a very theatrical context. The second is the casting. Crosby's baggage as a light comedy actor, while making sense in terms of the part within the film, jars with the very serious material thrust upon him, though he does try. The real revelation is Kelly, who of course got the Oscar, and who manages to look frumpy, cantankerous and yet vulnerable for much of the movie.
Country: US
Technical: bw 104m
Director: George Seaton
Cast: William Holden, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby
Synopsis:
A theatre director stakes his reputation on a washed-up former star to play the lead in his new musical bucolic. In doing his utmost to bolster the ego of his 'on the wagon' liability, he misjudges the balance of power between his actor and the latter's wife, a steadfast country girl who is also trying to hold him together in her way.
Review:
There are a couple of problems with this film, Seaton's own adaptation of a Clifford Odets play. The obvious one is exactly that: it talks, talks, talks, and is a dense human drama set in a very theatrical context. The second is the casting. Crosby's baggage as a light comedy actor, while making sense in terms of the part within the film, jars with the very serious material thrust upon him, though he does try. The real revelation is Kelly, who of course got the Oscar, and who manages to look frumpy, cantankerous and yet vulnerable for much of the movie.