I usually like Marion Davies. She was an underrated comedienne and if William Randolph Hearst hadn't been so ham handed and controlling with her career, she'd be better remembered today for her talent rather than as the Susan Alexander caricature in Citizen Kane.
At any rate, this is not one of her better films. She comes off as beyond stupid and annoying. You wish that you could reach into the TV and slap her when she refuses to shut up.
This is a brief synopsis of the movie: Gordy (Elliot Nugent) wants to sell part of his business to stuffy Mr. Forbes. (William Holden. NO, NOT THAT WILLIAM HOLDEN. This is the original one.) Anyway, Mr. Forbes and his family for some reason are spending a weekend with Dulcy (Marion Davies), her brother a butler who is on parole and other questionable people that Dulcy has found along the way.
The scene that I am talking about with the racial slur is when Mr. Forbes, Dulcy's brother Willie and Gordy retire to the billiard room. However, they can't find the billiard balls. Dulcy comes in and finds them, one being used as a darning egg. She then says that it would be "in a woodpile with a n****r." My jaw dropped to the floor and I had to rewind the DVR just to make sure I heard it correctly. I am shocked that TCM would allow such a word in a movie they show, even if it is a pre-code.
After getting over the shock, we learn that Mr. Forbes daughter wants to elope with one of Dulcy's guests, a screenwriter named Leach, played by Franklin Pangborn, who in the beginning of the film where he's introduced, gives Gordy a limp wristed handshake, which makes one wonder why she is determined to run off with him. Before the "billiard scene" Dulcy makes a remark to him to the effect of all of the men are in the billiard room, alluding to the fact that Mr. Leach may not be a real man.
Well by the end of the film, when you think Dulcy has made a mess of everything, all works out well. Mr. Forbes daughter marries her real love, Willie, and Gordy gets to sell his business at a higher price, thanks to Dulcy.
This might have been a decent film if 1) If they had better camera work. (The camera stays on the character's faces way too long.) 2) Better editing (hence, the camera staying on everyone way after the reaction has ended.) 3) A less silly character for Ms. Davies. A fine comedienne in her own right, there is no need for her shrill and yappy performance. She could have(and had done in the past) done this character a lot more subdued and gotten the point across.4) That racial slur. There was no need for it in the movie. also, I was shocked when Mr. Forbes says "damn" in the beginning of the movie and that got pass the censors.
Therefore, based on the above, I give it a 4/10.
At any rate, this is not one of her better films. She comes off as beyond stupid and annoying. You wish that you could reach into the TV and slap her when she refuses to shut up.
This is a brief synopsis of the movie: Gordy (Elliot Nugent) wants to sell part of his business to stuffy Mr. Forbes. (William Holden. NO, NOT THAT WILLIAM HOLDEN. This is the original one.) Anyway, Mr. Forbes and his family for some reason are spending a weekend with Dulcy (Marion Davies), her brother a butler who is on parole and other questionable people that Dulcy has found along the way.
The scene that I am talking about with the racial slur is when Mr. Forbes, Dulcy's brother Willie and Gordy retire to the billiard room. However, they can't find the billiard balls. Dulcy comes in and finds them, one being used as a darning egg. She then says that it would be "in a woodpile with a n****r." My jaw dropped to the floor and I had to rewind the DVR just to make sure I heard it correctly. I am shocked that TCM would allow such a word in a movie they show, even if it is a pre-code.
After getting over the shock, we learn that Mr. Forbes daughter wants to elope with one of Dulcy's guests, a screenwriter named Leach, played by Franklin Pangborn, who in the beginning of the film where he's introduced, gives Gordy a limp wristed handshake, which makes one wonder why she is determined to run off with him. Before the "billiard scene" Dulcy makes a remark to him to the effect of all of the men are in the billiard room, alluding to the fact that Mr. Leach may not be a real man.
Well by the end of the film, when you think Dulcy has made a mess of everything, all works out well. Mr. Forbes daughter marries her real love, Willie, and Gordy gets to sell his business at a higher price, thanks to Dulcy.
This might have been a decent film if 1) If they had better camera work. (The camera stays on the character's faces way too long.) 2) Better editing (hence, the camera staying on everyone way after the reaction has ended.) 3) A less silly character for Ms. Davies. A fine comedienne in her own right, there is no need for her shrill and yappy performance. She could have(and had done in the past) done this character a lot more subdued and gotten the point across.4) That racial slur. There was no need for it in the movie. also, I was shocked when Mr. Forbes says "damn" in the beginning of the movie and that got pass the censors.
Therefore, based on the above, I give it a 4/10.