King Vidor is to be congratulated for the deft handling of a subtle theme which begins with the opening sequence of H.M. PULHAM, ESQ. In a series of quick cuts he shows us how well organized and fastidious ROBERT YOUNG has become, frozen in time as the aristocratic lawyer leading a well organized life of utter boredom. This theme is developed in a story that encompasses frequent flashbacks evolving into what made him arrive at his current wistful situation.
ROBERT YOUNG is an extremely underrated actor. He performs the central role with a thorough understanding of his character and gains my full respect for a thoughtful, detailed performance. He's always such a likable screen personality and he's well matched with lovely HEDY LAMARR, who comes to life in a kind of role that rarely came her way--that of a normal working woman who keeps a tender spot in her heart for the man she almost marries. Of course, her face and figure made her ideal for playing the kind of seductress the studio made her play in most of her other films.
RUTH HUSSEY too, is effectively used as Young's wife who goes through the motions of a marriage that never really seems to be completely satisfying, no matter how much both of them try. CHARLES COBURN, VAN HEFLIN and BONITA GRANVILLE are fine in lesser roles but the film is really carried by the chemistry between Young and Lamarr.
The slow pacing will be too much for modern audiences since the film has a running time of two hours. Some careful editing could have removed at least a half-hour from the story without harming it. Lamarr doesn't enter fully into the picture until at least forty minutes or so, which is a shame because she's certainly seen to good advantage once her relationship with Young starts.
Photographed in crisp B&W with sumptuous sets and the usual MGM elegance, it's pleasant to look at. The main ingredient missing is a strong script with a little more conflict than the screenwriter presented. But there is nothing lacking in the performances--the cast is uniformly excellent with one exception. Much as I usually like LEIF ERICKSON, he overdoes the role of an ex-football star buddy of Young, overplaying the role to such an extent that his acting seems more suitable for a screwball comedy than a serious drama.
ROBERT YOUNG is an extremely underrated actor. He performs the central role with a thorough understanding of his character and gains my full respect for a thoughtful, detailed performance. He's always such a likable screen personality and he's well matched with lovely HEDY LAMARR, who comes to life in a kind of role that rarely came her way--that of a normal working woman who keeps a tender spot in her heart for the man she almost marries. Of course, her face and figure made her ideal for playing the kind of seductress the studio made her play in most of her other films.
RUTH HUSSEY too, is effectively used as Young's wife who goes through the motions of a marriage that never really seems to be completely satisfying, no matter how much both of them try. CHARLES COBURN, VAN HEFLIN and BONITA GRANVILLE are fine in lesser roles but the film is really carried by the chemistry between Young and Lamarr.
The slow pacing will be too much for modern audiences since the film has a running time of two hours. Some careful editing could have removed at least a half-hour from the story without harming it. Lamarr doesn't enter fully into the picture until at least forty minutes or so, which is a shame because she's certainly seen to good advantage once her relationship with Young starts.
Photographed in crisp B&W with sumptuous sets and the usual MGM elegance, it's pleasant to look at. The main ingredient missing is a strong script with a little more conflict than the screenwriter presented. But there is nothing lacking in the performances--the cast is uniformly excellent with one exception. Much as I usually like LEIF ERICKSON, he overdoes the role of an ex-football star buddy of Young, overplaying the role to such an extent that his acting seems more suitable for a screwball comedy than a serious drama.