Winterset

User Reviews

(Average=3.33 out of 5; Total Number=3)

The Sleeting Winter Rains Of The Naked City (rating=3)

I give this three and a-half stars.

Burgess Meredith gives a solid performance, perhaps, even memorable (as he KNOWS the difference between acting for a camera and acting for an audience) while Margo (mother of actor Edward Albert) appears to be caught in the middle although this may be the directors' fault.

Overall, this is a well-done film especially the cinematography (J. Peverell Marley, according to IMDB is one of only 5 cinematographers to have a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame - although after reviewing a listing of his other films none stand out as "significant") and production design.

The nearly unrelenting rain reinforces this dismal existence of the denizens of poverty.

The FULL CAST listing on IMDB shows Lucille Ball as "a girl (uncredited)".

There is suspense and even surprise as the drama unfolds and, in my opinion, is definitely worth repeated viewings.

Overall, the film transfer from Alpha-Video (Gotham) is watchable, although the sound is a bit muddy.

Overall Quality of DVD: **1/2 /**** Sound: ** /**** Plot: ***/**** Acting: ***/**** Cinematography: ***1/2 /**** Direction: ***/****

DATED, POETIC AND CHILLING TALE OF REVENGE. (rating=3)

Loosely based on the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti in the twenties, this film was considered powerful stuff in 1936, unfortunately time has dimmed it's impact. A son seeks to clear his father's name of a falsely accused crime 15 years after his electicution. The ending proves to be the greatest flaw in the production; the option for implausibility, where justice must triumph unequivocally, undercuts the poetic, posthumous, tragic quality of Maxwell Anderson's celebrated stage play. The acting of Eduardo Ciannelli, however is impressive,and it's his performance of Trock which lingers in the memory. There is a scene at the beach with extras Lucille Ball and Barbara Pepper.

Tight Melodrama Of Betrayal And Revenge. (rating=4)

Maxwell Anderson's classic play is reduced to a 77 minute playing time but is one of the tightest, tensest films to come out of the early talkie period. Acting ranges from excellent to outstanding (Meredith recreates his stage role). Although the film earned Oscar noms for Art Direction and Score - deserved, it excels most in black and white cinematography and editing. An excellent little film and one of the best of the early talkie era - it bespeaks eloquently of what was yet to come in film noir.

Summary