Make no mistake: This has a beautiful script, filled with swipes at many problems from bad grammar to social elitism. It's well paced and well directed. The stars: Who could ask for more? It's clever but never funny the way a Preston Sturges movies could be. It's never really poignant, either.
Ann Sothern was a wonderful actress, and she's fine here. Kirk Douglas was great in movies such as "Champion." But they don't make sense as a married couple, especially with him as a rather pedantic teacher. (Sothern is very believable as a career gal. Didn't Maisie always find a job for hereof, after all?) Florence Bates is hilarious in a small role as Sothern's boss.
Jeffery Lynn is appealing, as he always was, and Jeanne Crain is OK but sort of a cipher, as she generally seems (to me. Just my views.) Paul Douglas was a wonderful comic actor and Linda Darnell was an extraordinarily beauty and a talented one. But their relationship doesn't work for me. (For me.) No matter what, she does seem like a gold-digger. Why would she find herself actually in love with Douglas's blowhard character? Connie Gilchrist is amusing and Thelma Ritter is a delight, as always.
And Celeste Holm's voice is perfect as the narrator -- as Addie Ross, the home-wrecker. But the Ross character is not fleshed out enough to be pivotal.
I would certainly recommend this but maybe not recommend seeing it more than once.
Ann Sothern was a wonderful actress, and she's fine here. Kirk Douglas was great in movies such as "Champion." But they don't make sense as a married couple, especially with him as a rather pedantic teacher. (Sothern is very believable as a career gal. Didn't Maisie always find a job for hereof, after all?) Florence Bates is hilarious in a small role as Sothern's boss.
Jeffery Lynn is appealing, as he always was, and Jeanne Crain is OK but sort of a cipher, as she generally seems (to me. Just my views.) Paul Douglas was a wonderful comic actor and Linda Darnell was an extraordinarily beauty and a talented one. But their relationship doesn't work for me. (For me.) No matter what, she does seem like a gold-digger. Why would she find herself actually in love with Douglas's blowhard character? Connie Gilchrist is amusing and Thelma Ritter is a delight, as always.
And Celeste Holm's voice is perfect as the narrator -- as Addie Ross, the home-wrecker. But the Ross character is not fleshed out enough to be pivotal.
I would certainly recommend this but maybe not recommend seeing it more than once.