Just what I expected

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Hedy Lamarr didn't move from Austria to Hollywood to make money and achieve fame, although her parents persuaded her to engage in the performing arts industry. Perhaps, because she was not as 'industrious' as some actresses, she could be convincing on film without much effort. Hedy didn't have to try to be beautiful, she was a natural. Hedy's female co-star, Bonita Granville was a petite little blonde (5' tall) who had a figure that would be appreciated in film today where women don't wear girdles. same with Hedy....she had a beautiful butt.Hedy was a scientist first, a movie star second. She did almost as much for the WWII allied effort as Golda Meir did for Israel, raising millions in war bonds. Hedy was still young and in demand in Hollywood when she retired. Do I wish I was born longer ago and could have met Hedy? Of course, although, being born in 1941 on Pearl Harbor Day,I am lucky to be alive during the 'electronic age' which fits nicely into my demeanor. As for the film....any movie starring Hedy Lamarr is a good movie.

King Vidor is to be congratulated for the deft handling of a subtle theme which begins with the opening sequence of H.M. PULHAM, ESQ. In a series of quick cuts he shows us how well organized and fastidious ROBERT YOUNG has become, frozen in time as the aristocratic lawyer leading a well organized life of utter boredom. This theme is developed in a story that encompasses frequent flashbacks evolving into what made him arrive at his current wistful situation.ROBERT YOUNG is an extremely underrated actor. He performs the central role with a thorough understanding of his character and gains my full respect for a thoughtful, detailed performance. He's always such a likable screen personality and he's well matched with lovely HEDY LAMARR, who comes to life in a kind of role that rarely came her way--that of a normal working woman who keeps a tender spot in her heart for the man she almost marries. Of course, her face and figure made her ideal for playing the kind of seductress the studio made her play in most of her other films.RUTH HUSSEY too, is effectively used as Young's wife who goes through the motions of a marriage that never really seems to be completely satisfying, no matter how much both of them try. CHARLES COBURN, VAN HEFLIN and BONITA GRANVILLE are fine in lesser roles but the film is really carried by the chemistry between Young and Lamarr.The slow pacing will be too much for modern audiences since the film has a running time of two hours. Some careful editing could have removed at least a half-hour from the story without harming it. Lamarr doesn't enter fully into the picture until at least forty minutes or so, which is a shame because she's certainly seen to good advantage once her relationship with Young starts.Photographed in crisp B&W with sumptuous sets and the usual MGM elegance, it's pleasant to look at. The main ingredient missing is a strong script with a little more conflict than the screenwriter presented. But there is nothing lacking in the performances--the cast is uniformly excellent with one exception. Much as I usually like LEIF ERICKSON, he overdoes the role of an ex-football star buddy of Young, overplaying the role to such an extent that his acting seems more suitable for a screwball comedy than a serious drama.

Hedy Lamarr and Robert Young are well-paired in this movie. She plays the mature independent woman. He plays the good-natured homespun man. The movie is slow and touching, in the genre of movies where modern life conflicts with old and established life. I was reminded of "The Magnificent Ambersons." I agree that this was one of Hedy's best performances, and interestingly another in which her character has a male name (perhaps to balance her beguiling femininity.) In this and a few other movies, her face conveys a variety of emotions, often breaking the placidity of her porcelain beauty. Robert sets the tone of this movie. It would have been very different if another actor had been cast. He was an excellent choice for this role. Passion and prudence clash in this story, and as was often the case in Hays' Hollywood, the result is bittersweet. One of my favorite lines is when Marvin says to Harry on the sled, "Now don't be like Ethan Frome. I want to live."

Though dealing primarily with an upper-class character, this picture involves decisions and emotional conflicts that everyone can relate to. The bittersweet story reminds us that to a greater or lesser extent we all settle for something less than the life we dreamed of. On the surface, the characters here are happy: they say they are, and they mean it. But beneath that surface are disappointment and longing that they keenly feel when the past is recalled. Better not to think about it, and just go on with the life you have.Hedy Lamarr was a curious choice for this role. It doesn't really suit her, but she handles it better than one might expect.