Too much of everything

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Goodbye, My Fancy (1951) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Rather bizarre and uneven mix of comedy and drama features congresswoman Agatha Reed (Joan Crawford) going back to her college to receive an honorary degree. Her main reason for wanting to go back is so she can see a former love (Robert Young) who she was expelled from school for sneaking out to see. Once back on campus she ends up caught between him and a photographer (Frank Lovejoy). GOODBYE, MY FANCY has pretty much been forgotten over the years and it's easy to see why because it's really not part of Crawford's high standards, which she started six years earlier with MILDRED PIERCE and followed with some very impressive bits of work. This film here is mildly entertaining on a few levels but overall you've got to consider it a pretty disappointing picture. One of the biggest problems is that it runs 106-minutes and probably could have lost a good sixteen-minutes if not more. I say this because there's just so much going on in this picture and with so much happening the film just seems too long and uneven. The early portion of the film makes you think that we're in for some sort of weird comedy and we're given various silly scenes. Then the film because a rather bland romantic-comedy but things change yet again when we get a rather long political debate about freedom. I think the final twenty-five minutes or so are actually the best part of the film as the Crawford character tries to fight to get a film shown that tells young people some of the horrors that are out there. As for Crawford, she turns in a good performance but there's certainly nothing all that memorable here. This is the type of role should could do without trying but it's always nice seeing her. Young is pretty bland in his role but thankfully Lovejoy adds some energy when he's on screen. Eve Arden is good as the secretary and Janice Rule is also nice as Young's daughter. GOODBYE, MY FANCY really isn't going to appeal to many except for Crawford fans wanting to see everything she did.

I can't describe the disappointment at the ending in this film. It was like a punch in the gut.I don't agree that Ms. Crawford was miscast in this. I think she did an admirable job. My main problem is the story that we get weaves to an ending that's just...stupid...i dunno...I can't think of anything else to match how I feel.The basic outline is a congresswoman gets an invite to get an honorary degree at her old college that she was expelled from. She's happy to accept but at the same time, an old boyfriend from the war turns up 5 years later as if he's still in her life. She obviously hasn't thought a thing about him but he just happens to be a Life magazine photographer and will be at the College to photograph the story.Well, she accepts the honorary degree because the love of her life is the school president. Before they give her a degree they want to show a film of a speech she made but one of the main trustees of the college doesn't like it and wants it not to be shown. In the meantime she and the president decide to get married. She soon finds out that he's like all college presidents in that...he bows to the alumni pressure on things as they decide they want the film to not be shown. She doesn't like this because she sees that he's weak. By and by the old boyfriend keeps throwing jibes at her any time he can to break up her idea of him. She decides not to marry the president and get back together with the annoying guy who won't take no for an answer.This film was basically a backdrop for the communist witch hunt times. It was hot off the presses at the time this film was made. It's not a hidden plot in the film, it's disguised a bit as "free speech in education" but to me the whole film hinged on the 3 leads and their personal issues...and she chooses the annoying guy who has nuthin but ill will in mind. How does this make women look? She chooses the guy that keeps harassing her? The president makes an error in not letting the speech be heard...but then decides to go ahead with it and she says...nah...but they remain friends. Gimme a break.It comes down to Crawfords character showed no interest in the guy she ends up with throughout the entire film. There's no lead-in anywhere to show he would be the one she walks away with. This wasn't a bad film at all really. I just can't recommend a film with a really dumb ending like this. Total disappointment.

I like this movie. A romantic film, but with a clear message against McCarthy era. Eve Arden gave a splendid performance, like she use. Is one of my favourite actresses. She play ,often, independent and resolute women, with a suitable reply at the right moment. I recommend to see another Eve Arden's films like "Stage door", "Mildred Pierce" or "Grease".

What plays on the surface as a "romantic triangle" film carries a strong anti-McCarthyism message. Robert Young is the once-idealistic President of an exclusive Women's College who years earlier had trysted with Joan Crawford, a Congresswoman who has made a film depicting aspects of injustice. Crawford wants to reunite with Young and have the film played during Graduation Weekend. The school's trustees don't want the film shown, thinking it too "dangerous" for their students to see. The characters' arguments about democratic values play well with a modern audience, and both the political and the romantic aspects of the plot unfold in an engrossing and entertaining manner.