DANGEROUS
Posted: April 16th, 2010, 2:47 am
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I know this was a drama, but it seemed like more of a contradiction in terms. Franchot Tone was cursed with usually playing the milquetoast, with a wet noodle for a spine, but in this . . . . . in one scene he's being strong, and two seconds later he's succumbing to Bette's phony tears, and giving in to her drunken pleas.
On the other hand, Bette is the female version of Franchot's role. One minute she's being hard as nails, and the next she's scrubbing away tears as she begs for forgiveness, or because she isn't worth anyones' help.
She's a full out drunk and he takes her out to his lovely country house to let her dry up and get better. Naturally all she can think of is escaping (as if the doors are locked), and she goes about breaking things or tearing up pillows and such; in other words, destructive to this guy who's helping her. BTW, he's not there, he's left her with a lady housekeeper, so it's not like she has to worry about her priceless body being ravaged.
Through all of this, Tone is breaking dates with his trusting and faithful fiancee', while she holds on waiting for him, until he finally gives her the gate, I guess because he can't desert this poor kid who needs help. BTW, she thinks this is all a jinx she puts on anyone who loves her. I cannot believe Davis won the Oscar for this piece of drivel, but she did. I guess even back then politics were heavily involved in awards.
.
I know this was a drama, but it seemed like more of a contradiction in terms. Franchot Tone was cursed with usually playing the milquetoast, with a wet noodle for a spine, but in this . . . . . in one scene he's being strong, and two seconds later he's succumbing to Bette's phony tears, and giving in to her drunken pleas.
On the other hand, Bette is the female version of Franchot's role. One minute she's being hard as nails, and the next she's scrubbing away tears as she begs for forgiveness, or because she isn't worth anyones' help.
She's a full out drunk and he takes her out to his lovely country house to let her dry up and get better. Naturally all she can think of is escaping (as if the doors are locked), and she goes about breaking things or tearing up pillows and such; in other words, destructive to this guy who's helping her. BTW, he's not there, he's left her with a lady housekeeper, so it's not like she has to worry about her priceless body being ravaged.
Through all of this, Tone is breaking dates with his trusting and faithful fiancee', while she holds on waiting for him, until he finally gives her the gate, I guess because he can't desert this poor kid who needs help. BTW, she thinks this is all a jinx she puts on anyone who loves her. I cannot believe Davis won the Oscar for this piece of drivel, but she did. I guess even back then politics were heavily involved in awards.
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