The key word in the title is, of course, "man's". In other words, I know the director is the great romantic auteur, Frank Borzage, and I'm supposed to genuflect and all but, frankly, I found the grinding, pervasive sexism in this film rather off putting. From Spencer Tracy's inability to express affection toward Loretta Young without resorting to threats of physical violence to Young's praying for a son rather than a daughter (perhaps fearing a pasting from ol Spence if it's a girl) the movie is one long paean to macho husband, who is allowed to cheat with Glenda Farrell, and passive, doormat wife, at home making stew and babies. The few times Borzage's direction and Jo (can I borrow an "e"?) Swerling's screenplay escape the sexist confines of the Bill/Trina relationship and concentrate on the miseries and occasional splendors of depression era NYC, like in Farrell's music hall number or a great scene where Bill is kicked off a kid's baseball team for flubbing a fly ball, the movie holds interest. And the acting is good for the most part with Tracy in his usual fine form when playing a brooding everyman and a nice, sexy, pre code turn by Glenda. But after about twenty minutes I longed for Hepburn to come by and give Bill/Spence what for. C plus.
Review of Man's Castle
