Kings Row

A thing I love about old Hollywood studio pictures is their ability and patience for telling a full narrative, giving the impression that we're taken, in a sense, further than an ordinary story arc. This is certainly the case in this movie which is, at best, a compelling mystery/melodrama and, if one is less lenient, The Bold and the Beautiful on acid. Ronald Reagan is alright. And it goes to some dark places. Unfortunately, it's often emotionally unrestrained.

drags on in some parts, and feels like the characters are just props to events happening, but a fairly good story

If there was one Ronald Reagan film to see - This is it!

Apparently no intended irony in the presentation of this very long melodrama. Some interesting bits, but also a lot of false notes and cliches. It seemed ridiculous that the audience is apparently intended to take the actions of Claude Raines' character at face value (i.e. it is supposed to be his wife and daughter who were insane, rather than himself being the cause of his problems in his storyline.) Would not watch again.

Absolutely loved this one! One of the best classics (pre-1960), I've seen in a while. Great acting and storytelling in a totally unpredictable drama!

What about Louise?

88.00

I usually roll my eyes at melodramas, but this one fascinated me. It's structured a little like Winesburg Ohio (a book favorite), with the lives of several townspeople intermingled. Unfortunately, that's the same reason this isn't a "perfect" film: there are too many subplots and characters that entangle but sometimes don't resolve.

ronald reagan really could act, and very very well, too. but he needed a good, and challenging, vehicle. this was it. this was going to make him an a-list star... but of course the war happened. terrific picture in every way.

Thoroughly bonkers americana, one of those movies that tries so hard for emotional resonance that it often gets adorably terrible. It has some of the style yet none of the slyness of the Sirk melodramas, nor the sledgehammer vulgarity and general awesomeness of Blue Velvet and The Naked Kiss, but that it can still be mentioned in the same sentence as those smalltown nightmare classics is a testament to its own silly yet surprisingly twisted charms.

This was a ambitious multi-layered drama. However it does have two things holding it from becoming a true classic in my eyes. One, is the direction where Sam Wood falls for a few of the traps of old Hollywood, not suiting the mood. The other was the casting. I wouldn't say Ronald Reagan