This film bears little resemblance to the 19th century Hawthorne novel (which may be a good thing, since nothing happens for about the first two-thirds of the book). On the other hand, this film could have been a whole lot better.
George Sanders gives his usual pompous performance as a scumbag trying to cheat brother Vincent Price out of the family fortune, even though the family is bankrupt. When their father vapor locks during an argument with Price, Sanders accuses his brother of murder. The jury convicts Price without deliberating. Ah, the good old days of law and order. Eventually, Price's sentence is commuted, and he figures out a way to get even.
Sanders and Price try to out-ham each other, with neither succeeding. Price does get to sing while pretending to play the harpsichord. Lovely Margaret Lindsay gives a fine performance as Price's cousin and lover, transitioning from an effervescent beauty into an old maid. In the novel, her character and Price's character are siblings - but Hawthorne was not that kinky.
There is an unnecessary subplot concocted by the screenwriter involving abolition and Sanders making money off the slave trade. I guess somebody felt his character wasn't repulsive enough.
George Sanders gives his usual pompous performance as a scumbag trying to cheat brother Vincent Price out of the family fortune, even though the family is bankrupt. When their father vapor locks during an argument with Price, Sanders accuses his brother of murder. The jury convicts Price without deliberating. Ah, the good old days of law and order. Eventually, Price's sentence is commuted, and he figures out a way to get even.
Sanders and Price try to out-ham each other, with neither succeeding. Price does get to sing while pretending to play the harpsichord. Lovely Margaret Lindsay gives a fine performance as Price's cousin and lover, transitioning from an effervescent beauty into an old maid. In the novel, her character and Price's character are siblings - but Hawthorne was not that kinky.
There is an unnecessary subplot concocted by the screenwriter involving abolition and Sanders making money off the slave trade. I guess somebody felt his character wasn't repulsive enough.