Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Another Part of the Forest (1948)

Plot: A "prequel" to The Little Foxes.  In 1885 small-town Alabama, a Rich man's children scheme for  his favor and money.
Stars:  Fred March, Ann Blyth, Edmund O'Brien, Dan Duryea
Best Quote: Try to remember that though ignorance becomes a Southern gentleman, cowardice does not.

Based on the Lillian Hellman play, this is one of March's better roles as he plays a sarcastic, unlikable Patriarch, with a dark secret, and a passion for only one person - his daughter.  Other standouts: Blyth as beautiful, manipulative "Regina", and O'Brien as the charming but avaricious "Ben".

However, despite some good acting and direction - the movie soon becomes tiresome - as this family of vipers spit venom at each other for 107 minutes. There are only two kinds of characters, ruthless manipulators and the stupid/weak.  We also get some stuff about the KKK and the Confederacy but it rings false. Note:  Hellman seemed unable to create strong/good, realistic characters. All her "good guys" are either absurdly noble "anti-fascists" (Julia, Watch on the Rhine) or losers of some kind.

Summary:  Not really my kind of movie, Another Part of the Forest, its a cut below Little Foxes, covering the same ground, but less well. Fred March or Ann Blyth fans might enjoy it.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.