The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947)

Director:

Henry Levin

Writers:

Lenore J. Coffee (story)
Devery Freeman (writer)

Release Date:

6 March 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Got problems? Need a shrink? Call an alcoholic reporter instead. Janet Ames (Rosalind Russell) is a...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Rosalind Russell	...	Janet Ames
Melvyn Douglas	...	Smithfield 'Smitty' Cobb
Sid Caesar	...	Sammy Weaver
Betsy Blair	...	Katie
Nina Foch	...	Susie Pearson
Charles Cane	...	Walker
Harry von Zell	...	Carter
Bruce Harper	...	Junior
Arthur Space	...	Nelson
Richard Benedict	...	Joe Burton
Frank Orth	...	Danny

Also Known As:

My Empty Heart (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #11947, General Audience)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Denver Pyle's first film.

Serious, Earnest, Dares To Be Different. But It Is Still Bad

A common plot in 30s and 40s cinema is the jaded writer/actor/director of comedies who is tired of writing/acting/directing light fluffy stuff, and want to try his hand at real drama. (Think Sullivan's Travels, or the Bandwagon). Of course, it always turns out that the great serious drama is worthless, lousy, or unintentionally funny. In these films, we usually see only a few moments of the drama (or just hear the title), but can surmise the unrelenting awfulness of the play or movie.

Well, in case you were curious -- here is the movie/play all those failed serious artists were making. It is deadly serious -- all about the mental problems of those who went to war and the mental problems of the women who were left behind. It is told in the most up to date manner -- there are long extended scenes that take place in the united subconscious of heroine Rosalind Russell and hero Melvyn Douglas. There is much moody photography. There is a lot of embittered drinking (mostly by Melvyn). And the words "neurotic" and "Freud" come up a lot. There is even extended references to the play "Peter Ibbetson", which are vital to the plot.

The only things missing are believable, worthwhile characters, a sense of humanity by the authors, or anything resembling a life force -- er -- sense of humor. (There is a bit by Sid Cesar that is intended to be funny. If you like late-period Jerry Lewis or Danny Kaye, you might be amused.) I can tell, by the roles Roz was taking at this time (her next movie was Mourning Becomes Electra-- in which she is quite good) that she was trying to get away from the paint by numbers lightweight stuff she got stuck into after her turn in The Women. Nevertheless, this humorless horror does not show her to best advantage. Mevyn Douglas has an almost unplayable role. Nonetheless, he does as good a job with it as you might expect.

If you like classic movies -- you won't like this. It's not fun, and it is far too impressed with itself.

If you like more recent -- independent film -- you still won't like this. It dares to be different, but buys into every conventional post-war trope about a woman's place.

In other words, this one should be buried and forgotten. Unless, like me, you've got to see everything.