My recent inspection of Bette Davis revealed this absolutely fabulous performance. This is not a film noir, but Davis is certainly the epitome of a Femme Fatale as she seduces her sister's husband, drives him to suicide because of her erratic behavior and commits crimes to get her way.
In this picture, Davis owns this role and the Femme Fatale archetype.
But, In This Our Life isn't all about Davis' sensational performance. It's also offers a daring (for its time!) social commentary on how black people were treated. Ernest Anderson plays an ambitious black man, studying to be a lawyer, who Davis frames for a crime she commits.
Leave it to John Huston to handle the material impeccably. (Howard Koch scripted based on Ellen Glasgow's debut novel.) This was Huston's second directorial effort, the first was The Maltese Falcon. What a great start to a great career.
Another reason to watch is Olivia de Havilland. It's well reported that she immediately fell in love with the married Huston. Watching how Huston, and his distinguished cinematographer, Ernest Haller, photographed de Havilland is fascinating. The entire picture is superbly shot, but there's something extra special about de Havilland's shots.
This is a great film that is rarely talked about and deserves any lover of cinema's attention.
In this picture, Davis owns this role and the Femme Fatale archetype.
But, In This Our Life isn't all about Davis' sensational performance. It's also offers a daring (for its time!) social commentary on how black people were treated. Ernest Anderson plays an ambitious black man, studying to be a lawyer, who Davis frames for a crime she commits.
Leave it to John Huston to handle the material impeccably. (Howard Koch scripted based on Ellen Glasgow's debut novel.) This was Huston's second directorial effort, the first was The Maltese Falcon. What a great start to a great career.
Another reason to watch is Olivia de Havilland. It's well reported that she immediately fell in love with the married Huston. Watching how Huston, and his distinguished cinematographer, Ernest Haller, photographed de Havilland is fascinating. The entire picture is superbly shot, but there's something extra special about de Havilland's shots.
This is a great film that is rarely talked about and deserves any lover of cinema's attention.