Lilllian Hellman was a great writer and her stage play was a hit in 1944 but no one talks about it much and she didn't like it that much either. I can see its appeal on stage during war time - chat about diplomatics who charmingly went along wiht the rise of fascism. It's not really dramatised in the way that say Watch the Rhine was - in that film a fascist was on the run and he had to shoot someone. This doesn't have that.
Robert Young is the posh diplomat and Ann Richards (quite good) is his wealthy wife. Sylvia Sidney is
There's glimpses of where the drama is, which is this: Young is basically decent, or can be, but is too attracted to peace, and getting along, and his wife, who is rich and likes to hang with facsists. With Sidney has his conscience.
This story can work - look at The Way We Were. But this doesn't bring it alive. There's no heat/attraction between Young and Sidney. Robert Young's blandness suits the role I guess but isn't very compelling.I've never liked Sidney and while she's got a great character - feisty journalist, telling the truth, drawn to a married man - Sidney never gets there, at least not for me. If these two had had some real heat it would've been so much better. Like , I don't know, Robert Cummings for someone charming and Barbara Stanwyck for someone to be tough. Joseph Cotten was offered the lead - he would've been better.
Dramatically someone needed to die - like Sidney really. To die for her conscience. It's weird that Shirley and Richards go "you're staying with Shirley" then Dick gives the speech.
Douglas Dick plays the son of Richards and Shirley who lost a leg in the war - Montgomery Clift played the part on Broadway. He has a big speech at the end. Dick is best known for being killed in Rope.
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