Coincidentally, I saw this for the first time a few months ago too. It was very high energy, but didn't quite click with me. Like you, I think it was okay, but it had a lot more potential. The issue, I think, is that it didn't have a well-developed central conflict to draw in one's attention. The only conflict was his desire to succeed. But that was pretty much it. It's an impossible movie to pass up given the star power. Ann Blythe is awesome, but she was underused here. With a little more work on the script this could probably have been better. I do remember the race at the end between Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. That was pretty exciting.
I agree! It was a very strange story in itself. That's what I love about the classics...old Hollywood was willing to take gambles on the most random of stories. Now, Hollywood only plays it safe with big brand blockbusters...I hate it! I hope you've been having a good summer so far filled with lots of good classics!
@@ianpatrickclassicreviews Thanks for the reply. I agree 100%. I think the studio system allowed them to be more adventurous because they had more capital to work with. They used the vertical integration business model (where they controlled every stage of production), because it favors risky high-cost ventures, such as making movies. In one of my many long-winded replies 😁 I mentioned The Paramount Decision of 1949 and how I strongly believe it's what broke the studio system, because it undermined vertical integration. Anyway, I think it's way too little, way too late, but to my complete and utter surprise, the decision was finally recently repealed: "The “Paramount Decree” sunsets in August 2022, allowing studios to legally own movie theaters." Haha. Yep, my summer has been pretty good (except for a recent 1.5 day power outage due to a storm) and I've been watching a fairly decent number of classics this year. I hope you've been doing well too and watching some classics. 👍 I think we both prefer pre-1950s movies, but recently for the first time I watched a couple 1950s movies with Richard Burton. I'm not sure why I haven't seen any of his movies before, but his voice was amazing. Specifically, I watched My Cousin Rachel (1952) and Prince of Players (1955). MCR gets a higher rating on IMDB, but I liked POP more. Don't get me wrong, MCR looks amazing, and the story is interesting, but I would have preferred a different ending. POP is much more conventional, but I loved it. There's a scene at the end where he looks up at an empty balcony, and that really got me. I also liked POP more because I'm a bit of a Shakespeare nut and it expertly enacts numerous scenes from his plays.
It doesn't sound like the best movie, but one of those movies that u want to see when you feeling a bit tired and want something unchallenging- hehe, they all have their place!
Coincidentally, I saw this for the first time a few months ago too. It was very high energy, but didn't quite click with me.
Like you, I think it was okay, but it had a lot more potential. The issue, I think, is that it didn't have a well-developed central conflict to draw in one's attention.
The only conflict was his desire to succeed. But that was pretty much it.
It's an impossible movie to pass up given the star power. Ann Blythe is awesome, but she was underused here.
With a little more work on the script this could probably have been better.
I do remember the race at the end between Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. That was pretty exciting.
I agree! It was a very strange story in itself. That's what I love about the classics...old Hollywood was willing to take gambles on the most random of stories. Now, Hollywood only plays it safe with big brand blockbusters...I hate it! I hope you've been having a good summer so far filled with lots of good classics!
@@ianpatrickclassicreviews Thanks for the reply. I agree 100%. I think the studio system allowed them to be more adventurous because they had more capital to work with. They used the vertical integration business model (where they controlled every stage of production), because it favors risky high-cost ventures, such as making movies. In one of my many long-winded replies 😁 I mentioned The Paramount Decision of 1949 and how I strongly believe it's what broke the studio system, because it undermined vertical integration.
Anyway, I think it's way too little, way too late, but to my complete and utter surprise, the decision was finally recently repealed: "The “Paramount Decree” sunsets in August 2022, allowing studios to legally own movie theaters."
Haha. Yep, my summer has been pretty good (except for a recent 1.5 day power outage due to a storm) and I've been watching a fairly decent number of classics this year. I hope you've been doing well too and watching some classics. 👍
I think we both prefer pre-1950s movies, but recently for the first time I watched a couple 1950s movies with Richard Burton. I'm not sure why I haven't seen any of his movies before, but his voice was amazing. Specifically, I watched My Cousin Rachel (1952) and Prince of Players (1955). MCR gets a higher rating on IMDB, but I liked POP more. Don't get me wrong, MCR looks amazing, and the story is interesting, but I would have preferred a different ending. POP is much more conventional, but I loved it. There's a scene at the end where he looks up at an empty balcony, and that really got me. I also liked POP more because I'm a bit of a Shakespeare nut and it expertly enacts numerous scenes from his plays.
It doesn't sound like the best movie, but one of those movies that u want to see when you feeling a bit tired and want something unchallenging- hehe, they all have their place!
That pretty much sums it up! haha this is a great movie to see during a week night after a long day of work. Thanks for the comment!