The Decision of Christopher Blake (1948) User Reviews

As strange as, though better than, The Guilt of Janet Ames

[Handlinghandel · 6/10 · 20 June 2004]

I have been ill and unable to comment on movies for several months, but I couldn't pass this one by:

In many ways like a filmed play, this movie includes several scenes set against backdrops made to look like a child's (presumably he title character's) drawing.

He is the son of parents who are -- gasp! -- about to divorce. For its time, it may have been adventuresome but it seems quite melodramatic psychologically in that respect when viewed today.

Alexis Smith is the mother, to whom he seems so close as to presage romantic movies such as Murmur of the Heart and harsher ones like Spanking the Monkey. I like her and like the director but she seems to have been directed to stare blankly to show her distress and confusion.

It reminded me of The Guilt of Janet Ames in terms of the stagy dream sequences; ut it is considerably better than that hilarious mess.

From the Moss Hart Play

[drednm · 10 June 2006]

Odd film from the 1946 play by Moss Hart, who was not involved with the film.

Alexis Smith and Robert Douglas star as a divorcing couple who try hard not to drag their son, Ted Donaldson, through their mud. The film see much of its actions through the day dreams of the boy which are set in front of his drawings. Very clever and for 1948 a new topic and somewhat cutting edge.

For Hart though this was old stuff as he had already dealt with psychoanalysis in his groundbreaking smash-hit music Lady in the Dark, which starred Gertrude Lawrence on stage and Ginger Rogers on film. But this film is not without its moments.

Co-stars include Mary Wickes, Cecil Kellaway, Harry Davenport, John Hoyt, and Lois Maxwell as the secretary.

Neurotic Retelling of A Book About Guilt !!!

[cshep · 1/10 · 8 June 2005]

Bad , but VERY FUNNY bad movie seen through the eyes of a CHILD named Chris, which, if they gave you a nickel for every time they said that name , would pay for the price of admission and a nice dinner !!!

Mommy(Alexis Smith) and Daddy are going to get a divorce, Daddy had an affair, he would rather have someone named Ruth than Alexis Smith, which makes this movie Science-Fiction !!! Chris is idealistic, and his hobbies include Day Dreaming and building an Atomic Bomb in the garage, see, I told you it was Science-Fiction....He just turned 13, and Mommy got him some chemicals to build a Neutron Bomb for his birthday ....

Daddy is an idiot, and suffering in exile , somewhere in the city...

Day Dreaming sequences are a hoot, including someone named BUTTS(Peter Godfrey, Director)...you do not even need to be drunk to enjoy them...

This Post-World War 2 melodrama is a moralistic tale, probably designed to help families resolve problems and forget the war...

I guess Alexis Smith was not into 3 ways...A sign of the times...

Chris is really a self-absorbed butt-hole,he questions Dad about Ruth, which is incredibly obtrusive, and hysterical, you have to see it to believe it...Ruth likes to make statues without clothes on, kinda what she did to Chris's Daddy ...He also asked Daddy if he likes her, and his reply was that he just liked doing her...Ha.Ha.Ha...

In order for Daddy to talk to Mommy, Daddy tells Chris to go and blow up the garage..INCREDIBLE....

This is a model Dr. Phil family...anyway the crisis of the movie is to choose between one of the parents...I think he chooses Ruth..New Hobby ??? Even Abe Lincoln can't save this mess...

Music score by Max Steiner and Photography by Karl Freund. terrific talent !!!

Try watching "I Accuse My Parents", it is Academy Award Winning material compared to this manure pile...

The Producers may have merchandised "I Hate Chris Dolls" to help people relieve stress by choking the hell out of it...

So if you like melodramatic slop with no real purpose, I can't believe they made THIS film, and made George Lucas beg for money for "STAR WARS",then watch "The Decision of Christopher Blake", they may have to scrape you off the ceiling...!

wonderfully tender film

[bailodhia · 10/10 · 13 June 2004]

This is a beautifully done film, a very tender and sensitive story, perfectly acted and staged with great imagination. Max Steiner created a superbly melodic and emotional score which expertly brings together the psychological and emotional themes, and Karl Freund gives an excellent German expressionistic look to the fantasy sequences. One of the most unusual and captivating Hollywood films of that era. Especially enjoyable is the central performance by child actor Ted Donaldson. All of the other performances, especially Cecil Kellaways, are equally fine. An important film, sadly overlooked, with an even more important message. See it!!!