The beautiful Lilli Palmer stars with Albert Lieven and Sir Cedric Hardwicke in "Beware of Pity" from 1946, based on a novel by Stefan Zweig.
Someone suggested that this film would have been better had it been done by Warner Brothers and starred Paul Henried and Bette Davis. It's an interesting and correct thought. They would have brought warmth to the characterizations which seem lacking here.
An older soldier, Anton Marek (Lieven) tells a younger one a story from his own youth. One night at a party, he asks a Baroness (Palmer) to dance, before realizing that she is unable to walk due to paralysis.
Embarrassed and feeling sorry for her, he attempts to make it up to her by visiting from time to time, not realizing that she is falling in love with him.
Afraid of hurting her feelings, he does not discourage her, nevertheless, her assumptions trouble him because she is so fragile and overprotected by her family.
The message here is mixed and for some reason, the movie doesn't draw one in, though the story is sad. On the one hand, this man is being asked to attach himself to someone he doesn't love, with a belief that in the future love will grow. And on the other hand, he should rip off the band-aid early on.
Gladys Cooper has a supporting role as the attending doctor's blind wife, and she gives a good performance.
Lilli Palmer is radiant if by today's standards a little over the top. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is excellent as the woman's doctor.
It's a shame this film wasn't in color as the scenery looked as if it would have been beautiful.
Someone suggested that this film would have been better had it been done by Warner Brothers and starred Paul Henried and Bette Davis. It's an interesting and correct thought. They would have brought warmth to the characterizations which seem lacking here.
An older soldier, Anton Marek (Lieven) tells a younger one a story from his own youth. One night at a party, he asks a Baroness (Palmer) to dance, before realizing that she is unable to walk due to paralysis.
Embarrassed and feeling sorry for her, he attempts to make it up to her by visiting from time to time, not realizing that she is falling in love with him.
Afraid of hurting her feelings, he does not discourage her, nevertheless, her assumptions trouble him because she is so fragile and overprotected by her family.
The message here is mixed and for some reason, the movie doesn't draw one in, though the story is sad. On the one hand, this man is being asked to attach himself to someone he doesn't love, with a belief that in the future love will grow. And on the other hand, he should rip off the band-aid early on.
Gladys Cooper has a supporting role as the attending doctor's blind wife, and she gives a good performance.
Lilli Palmer is radiant if by today's standards a little over the top. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is excellent as the woman's doctor.
It's a shame this film wasn't in color as the scenery looked as if it would have been beautiful.