One of the most striking things about post-depression era American cinema is that, no matter how light the comedy or how gentle the situation, they always seem to find a way to slip an attempted suicide in there. It’s A Wonderful Life, The Great McGinty, and now this, in which Frank Morgan’s avuncular shop owner is so depressed at his wife’s affair that he attempts to shoot himself in the face, and only just misses.
But it’s these little troughs that make the peaks sparkle that little bit more, and what a sparkler this is- Jimmy Stewart was never more charming, but every character is rounded, every situation believable, even the unbelievable ones. Best of the bunch by a mile is William Tracy’s scheming, social climbing delivery boy Pepi, who, with a nod and a wink, steals every scene he’s in.
by Tom Huddleston | Source: DVD
17 Jan 2008 11:36 AM | Submit Comment
