Borderick Crawford plays a vicious and low-class man who is power-mad and treats people around him like dirt. Despite his being such an awful person, he somehow feels embarrassed by the fact that his live-in girlfriend (Judy Holliday) lacks brains and class. So, he has the bright idea of hiring newspaperman William Holden to give her sophistication. Unfortunately, in the process, he infuses her with a thirst for knowledge and she ultimately realizes what a degenerate Crawford is and that she can do much better than wait for him to eventually marry her.
While this was an Oscar-winning film and I did enjoy it, I was struck by many things that confused me. First, it wasn't THAT great a film and the hype around it seems out of proportion to the film. Second, while I have often heard it described as a comedy, the film isn't really a comedy at all--despite having a few mildly funny moments. That's because although this could have been a great film, it was often way too serious and cruel to be laughed at--especially when Craword and Holliday did a very vivid scene where he beat her. I am an ex-therapist (now teaching) and seeing her slapped around was very, very disturbing to me--probably because I used to work with people who did that. It didn't bother my wife, as she said this furthered the plot, but I was left shaken as will many who have experienced abuse or know others who have. To me, spousal or partner abuse kill comedies--it just can't be funny. Now this did NOT ruin the film--it just made it tough for me to watch a few scenes.
As for the rest of the film, it was generally very good--though Crawford's character seemed so evil and awful that he seemed tough to believe. Holliday and Holden were great and the plot, believe it or not, is highly reminiscent of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. A good but flawed film.
While this was an Oscar-winning film and I did enjoy it, I was struck by many things that confused me. First, it wasn't THAT great a film and the hype around it seems out of proportion to the film. Second, while I have often heard it described as a comedy, the film isn't really a comedy at all--despite having a few mildly funny moments. That's because although this could have been a great film, it was often way too serious and cruel to be laughed at--especially when Craword and Holliday did a very vivid scene where he beat her. I am an ex-therapist (now teaching) and seeing her slapped around was very, very disturbing to me--probably because I used to work with people who did that. It didn't bother my wife, as she said this furthered the plot, but I was left shaken as will many who have experienced abuse or know others who have. To me, spousal or partner abuse kill comedies--it just can't be funny. Now this did NOT ruin the film--it just made it tough for me to watch a few scenes.
As for the rest of the film, it was generally very good--though Crawford's character seemed so evil and awful that he seemed tough to believe. Holliday and Holden were great and the plot, believe it or not, is highly reminiscent of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. A good but flawed film.