The Circle

i don't have very much appreciation for maugham's work, nor for his peers. so every time i pick up a movie based off of something that maugham wrote i do so with a horrid sense of dread. this movie, however, was saved by joan crawford. she managed to not only make this movie tolerable, but enjoyable. also, i have no problem admitting that crawford was one hell of a woman in the 20's.

Amusing adaption of a W. Somerset Maugham play by Frank Borzage which looks classy and captures the people excellently! The ex-wife and the old friend she ran off with 30 years ago returns to the castle and everyones in a panic. But as it happens this story dwells out a little too much in light melodrama and even lighter comedy after a real solid start. The end however is somewhat unusual and unexpected, which leaves one a little baffled and thinking that this was a fairly clever one after all.