Thursday, March 15, 2012

Movie review - "Adam and Evelyne" (1949) *1/2

Stewart Granger was better at comedy than he was given credit for, Jean Simmons rarely gave a vad performance, and they work well together there. There's also a solid support cast and brisk handling. But none of it really matters because the story is just plain yuck.

Granger is a dashing gambler with a butler and a mistress (she's waiting for her divorce to come through), when an old army buddy - they were in a Japanese POW camp together - dies in a horse racing accident. He's got a daughter he's never seen (Jean Simmons), who thinks Granger is her father. It takes him a while to admit the truth, so she thinks he's her father - then Granger's mistress spills the beans. In an attempt to get more story, Granger keeps looking after Simmons, but lies to her about what he does (she hates gambling because of her father's death) then his sleazy brother tries to seduce her. 

People make snide comments about Granger and Simmons and to be frank they're entitled to - you don't want to see these two together. Well, maybe I shouldn't speak on behalf of everyone - if you don't mind a child woman and her guardian falling in love, then this could be the movie for you.

Granger helped produce it so he's only got himself to blame. He is handsome and there is a nice bit when Simmons realises she's in love... but then you remember the daddy factor and it gets icky.

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