Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tinear (A) on September 28, 2009 at 20:25:18

of wives were up to during their husbands' service was front-and-square in the national conscience. This sparklingly written, perfectly cast, and cleverly directed film explores the many facets of marriage through a careful examination of three of them.
Ann Southern, Jean Crain (has a more beautiful girl-next-door ever graced our screen?), and Linda Darnell travel up the Hudson but receive a terrible shock upon leaving: a letter arrives telling them that one of their husbands will leave them for another woman while they are gone.
One of the husbands, Kirk Douglas, is a teacher. In one rousing scene which shows the range which he would suppress later as he became a traditional dramatic and action leading man, Douglas gives a spirited defense of his profession.
Equally excellent is Paul Douglas's portrayal of the older tycoon who knowingly lets his money serve as the bait for his much younger wife, played perfectly by Darnell.
Thelma Ritter, always a pleasure, almost steals every scene she graces.
Truly intelligent and realistic dialogue serving as the scalpel to lay bare the institution of marriage: who wouldn't be fascinated?
Joe Mankiewicz well-deservedly won an Oscar for the superb direction of this very unjustly forgotten pearl.