I've long thought that Joseph Cotten was one of the most under-rated actors of his era. I often see him as more an "every man" than James Stewart. There are a quite a few fine performances by Cotten...but I'm not sure this is one of them. However, I think it's the film, not Cotten.
The odd thing was that as I was watching the film there were times I thought it was rather Hitchcockian. And when I looked the film up, I learned that initially the film was to star Cary Grant and be directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It's too nad. I think Hitchcock could have made this a winning film.
Cotten in his usual self here. Understated, and perhaps that's one of the problems. Sometimes an understated performance can help a film that is at too fast a pace. But the opposite is true here. This needed a more dynamic performance because the film dragged.
Even as the female lead, this must have been a disappointing role for Valli. A lesser actress could have done just as well with the little screen time afforded the female lead here.
It was nice to see Spring Byington in a meatier role than we're used to with her.
I have several Joseph Cotten films in my DVD collection. This won't become one of them.
The odd thing was that as I was watching the film there were times I thought it was rather Hitchcockian. And when I looked the film up, I learned that initially the film was to star Cary Grant and be directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It's too nad. I think Hitchcock could have made this a winning film.
Cotten in his usual self here. Understated, and perhaps that's one of the problems. Sometimes an understated performance can help a film that is at too fast a pace. But the opposite is true here. This needed a more dynamic performance because the film dragged.
Even as the female lead, this must have been a disappointing role for Valli. A lesser actress could have done just as well with the little screen time afforded the female lead here.
It was nice to see Spring Byington in a meatier role than we're used to with her.
I have several Joseph Cotten films in my DVD collection. This won't become one of them.