Reviews of movies with William Powell.
Monday, August 4th 2008
Grade: C+
Synopsis: A con man (William Powell) masterminds a stock swindle involving synthetic rubber.
High Pressure works because of William Powell. The movie is as much a testament to his charisma and presence as any in his career, as he carries the entire show from start to finish with his relentlessly engaging performance as a fast-talking con man capable of manipulating anyone, including the audience. While Powell was still years away from his breakout success in The Thin Man, it’s clear he was well on his way to establishing himself one of the premier leading men of the post-silent era.
The script by Joseph Jackson from Aben Kandel’s play is a rapid-fire delight. Granted, it’s no His Girl Friday (1940), but the fast dialog and relentless pacing do make for an enjoyable ride and allow Powell to gloss over the film’s shortcomings. MORE »
Posted at 11:47 AM in Movie Reviews and William Powell.
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Tuesday, July 22nd 2008
Grade: B-
Synopsis: A fictionalized biography of producer Florenz Ziegfeld (William Powell).
The Great Ziegfeld works because of William Powell. His natural charisma and urbane demeanor are a natural fit for the character of Ziegfeld, a larger-than-life figure who went from carnival barker to Broadway producer, going broke several times in the process, but always dreaming of the next big show.
The shows themselves are impressive as well. The film features several production numbers that hold up even against modern standards, and must have been positively jaw dropping in 1936.
The biggest problem with The Great Ziegfeld is Luise Rainer, who plays Ziegfeld’s first wife, Anna Held. She over-acts every scene and does little to charm the audience. As a result, it’s hard to understand what Powell’s character sees in her, and when their marriage ultimately fails, it’s not a tragedy; it’s a relief. Of course, Rainer won an Oscar for her performance. MORE »
Posted at 11:51 AM in Movie Reviews and William Powell.
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Wednesday, July 16th 2008
Grade: C-
Synopsis: A singer’s (Jean Harlow) agent (William Powell) sees her through a scandalous marriage to a wealthy playboy (Franchot Tone).
Reckless works well as a drama. Unfortunately, it’s also a musical.
This problem is readily apparent early on, when Franchot Tone’s character buys out an entire theater’s worth of seats so he can enjoy Jean Harlow’s character’s show, and his interactions with William Powell’s character prove to be far more interesting than the stage show, which just gets in the way.
According to the IMDb, the film was scripted and shot as a straight drama, and only turned into a musical after the fact, which explains a lot. Since producer David O. Selznick would have been the one to approve such a transformation, the resulting mess is his to bear. MORE »
Posted at 3:35 PM in Movie Reviews and William Powell.
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Friday, May 16th 2008
Grade: C+
Synopsis: An attorney (William Powell) prosecutes a lifelong friend (Clark Gable) on the opposite side of the law for murder, unaware of the crime’s true motive.
Manhattan Melodrama doesn’t start well. True to its title there’s a young Mickey Rooney sobbing on screen in the wake of the General Slucum tragedy, then more sobbing at another tragedy. Finally, Clark Gable makes his appearance and the film picks up considerably.
The script is pretty ridiculous, as far as story goes, but the three leads, Gable, William Powell, and Myrna Loy pull it off. Gable is his usual sly, charming self, and works perfectly as a gambler who secretly looks up to his childhood friend, played by William Powell, who’s equally well perfect as a moralistic attorney determined to do what’s right. Between them, Myrna Loy does a fabulous job of maximizing her character’s story of a girl growing up and wanting more from life, and her chemistry with Powell is dynamite. Their combined star power overcomes the story’s gaping plot holes and left field twists, but only barely. MORE »
Posted at 1:25 PM in Movie Reviews and William Powell.
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Wednesday, May 14th 2008
Grade: D+
Synopsis: A doctor (William Powell) solves a murder with his mystery writer ex-wife (Jean Arthur).
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford is a poor-man’s Thin Man that fails on almost every level. In trying to ape the latter’s success, the filmmakers overlooked all the little things that made it work.
First and foremost, Jean Arthur is no Myrna Loy. She struggles with the forced comedy and fails to charm the audience, leaving you wondering just what William Powell’s character sees in her. Further, her box office stature demanded a larger role, which, in turn, cuts into Powell’s, who’s the film’s lone strong suit. Finally, Powell and Arthur simply don’t have the chemistry that Powell and Loy shared. MORE »
Posted at 3:18 PM in Movie Reviews and William Powell.
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