WELL DONE! I haven’t seen this film for decades! Very underrated in popularity! “Ve shall take that big fat cigar from Mr. Churchill’s mouth, and make him say ‘Heil!’… five times!” 👏🏻🤣
Franchot Tone was a 'nothing' persona... a 'nothing' face - not handsome, not big and imposing, but he often played The Married Friend or Brother, or sidekick. This film is one of his few starring roles, and he carries the story perfectly. His IMDB credits are worthy a film-study unto themselves - "How can a Nothing Persona make it well into so many Classic films?" 1933's BOMBSHELL (starring The Bombshell at the time, Jean Harlow) is a great example where he's an intermittent suitor but is overshadowed by another Nothing Persona, Lee Tracy, playing her usually abused agent. Highlighting any one of his films does a disservice to others, though. Franchot starred in THE PHANTOM LADY (1944) in a most ingenious murder mystery involving his dead wife, his loyal secretary and a single-night's encounter at a bar that gives him the alibi away from his wife's death. In 1947, he's a chemist whose success is marred by his being married to Lucille Ball, in a film that heralds her forthcoming I LOVE LUCY TV show. Then, I LOVE TROUBLE (1948) is another starring role, and again with beautiful women, including one of the great (and generally unheralded) beauty, Janis Carter.
Tone's (To-NAY) film-appeal decline was likely offset by his 'real life' in Hollywood real estate investing, which gave him a whole new audience. If you ever see 1945's DETOUR (considered one of the early noir-classics), you'll see Tom Neal's good performance. But a few years later, Tom The Drunk Neal was making party rounds and socked Tone pretty viciously and was pretty much run out of Hollywood after that. You can't beat up a Nothing Actor and not pay a far-from-nothing price.
By the way, a great story is carried in this little film, this very small slice of the war, with very small people who contributed very little but gave so much. And your closing thoughts express that beautifully. Well done.
WELL DONE! I haven’t seen this film for decades! Very underrated in popularity!
“Ve shall take that big fat cigar from Mr. Churchill’s mouth, and make him say ‘Heil!’… five times!” 👏🏻🤣
Thanks for reacting to this film. I first saw it sometime in the mid-60s. I really like how you analyze plot points as you go along.
Brilliant reaction.
I love the way you present your reaction.
Did I hear you say you’ve watched my favourite Film Noir… “Double Indemnity” (1944)? I’ll check it out.
A day may come when you'll dive into the Hollywood Bible epics. Look up Anne Baxter as the princess in "The Ten Commandments".
I'll add that to my list, thanks for your suggestion! 😊
Franchot Tone was a 'nothing' persona... a 'nothing' face - not handsome, not big and imposing, but he often played The Married Friend or Brother, or sidekick. This film is one of his few starring roles, and he carries the story perfectly. His IMDB credits are worthy a film-study unto themselves - "How can a Nothing Persona make it well into so many Classic films?" 1933's BOMBSHELL (starring The Bombshell at the time, Jean Harlow) is a great example where he's an intermittent suitor but is overshadowed by another Nothing Persona, Lee Tracy, playing her usually abused agent. Highlighting any one of his films does a disservice to others, though. Franchot starred in THE PHANTOM LADY (1944) in a most ingenious murder mystery involving his dead wife, his loyal secretary and a single-night's encounter at a bar that gives him the alibi away from his wife's death. In 1947, he's a chemist whose success is marred by his being married to Lucille Ball, in a film that heralds her forthcoming I LOVE LUCY TV show. Then, I LOVE TROUBLE (1948) is another starring role, and again with beautiful women, including one of the great (and generally unheralded) beauty, Janis Carter.
Tone's (To-NAY) film-appeal decline was likely offset by his 'real life' in Hollywood real estate investing, which gave him a whole new audience. If you ever see 1945's DETOUR (considered one of the early noir-classics), you'll see Tom Neal's good performance. But a few years later, Tom The Drunk Neal was making party rounds and socked Tone pretty viciously and was pretty much run out of Hollywood after that. You can't beat up a Nothing Actor and not pay a far-from-nothing price.
By the way, a great story is carried in this little film, this very small slice of the war, with very small people who contributed very little but gave so much. And your closing thoughts express that beautifully. Well done.
Sure, more movies to add to my list~
Thanks for your fun facts and movie suggestions! 😊
Sad and funny at the same time. Look up Akim Tamiroff's filmography, it's his trademark.