I disagree with quite a few of the reviews here, and I'm giving this a strong "7" rating.
There are two things I particularly like about this film. The first is in regard to the Jimmy Stewart performance. It seems as if most of the time we can cast Jimmy Stewart in either a drama OR a comedy, and he's equally good at both (although the intense dramas came mostly after his fighting in World War II). Here we have a little both. In the first half of the film, we see the 'aw shucks', rather comical Stewart playing country bumpkin who, nevertheless has written a good play. In the second half of the film, when he strays from his wife and lashes out at her (although he's really lashing out at himself), we see the more dramatic James Stewart. The good news is that we see both types of Stewart characters here. The bad news is that it is, perhaps, the reason some of our reviewers here don't like the film -- it's difficult to peg it as either a comedy or a drama, because it has elements of both genres.
The other thing I like here is Rosiland Russell's performance. I've never been a particular fan of hers in films. I don't dislike her. She's just an actress that I typically think to myself, 'Oh...Rosiland Russell. Who's her co-star?" That's how I decide whether or not to watch one of her films. Well, I really liked her here. In fact, as I watched the film I tried to think of an actress who could have played this part better. And I couldn't. She was 'just right' for this role.
The other thing I really like about this film is the presence of Charlie Ruggles. Largely forgotten now, he was a wonderfully popular actor in both movies and television. I remember him fondly.
And, the wonderful Louise Beavers is here...naturally as the maid (who also does a little acting). She funny and charming, and it is such a shame that in that era African-American actresses couldn't get more substantive parts. She's a gem!
I liked this enough that after watching it on TCM I ordered the DVD from Amazon. Nuff said.
There are two things I particularly like about this film. The first is in regard to the Jimmy Stewart performance. It seems as if most of the time we can cast Jimmy Stewart in either a drama OR a comedy, and he's equally good at both (although the intense dramas came mostly after his fighting in World War II). Here we have a little both. In the first half of the film, we see the 'aw shucks', rather comical Stewart playing country bumpkin who, nevertheless has written a good play. In the second half of the film, when he strays from his wife and lashes out at her (although he's really lashing out at himself), we see the more dramatic James Stewart. The good news is that we see both types of Stewart characters here. The bad news is that it is, perhaps, the reason some of our reviewers here don't like the film -- it's difficult to peg it as either a comedy or a drama, because it has elements of both genres.
The other thing I like here is Rosiland Russell's performance. I've never been a particular fan of hers in films. I don't dislike her. She's just an actress that I typically think to myself, 'Oh...Rosiland Russell. Who's her co-star?" That's how I decide whether or not to watch one of her films. Well, I really liked her here. In fact, as I watched the film I tried to think of an actress who could have played this part better. And I couldn't. She was 'just right' for this role.
The other thing I really like about this film is the presence of Charlie Ruggles. Largely forgotten now, he was a wonderfully popular actor in both movies and television. I remember him fondly.
And, the wonderful Louise Beavers is here...naturally as the maid (who also does a little acting). She funny and charming, and it is such a shame that in that era African-American actresses couldn't get more substantive parts. She's a gem!
I liked this enough that after watching it on TCM I ordered the DVD from Amazon. Nuff said.