I enjoy this holiay film, although it's no classic. Stanwyck was
always terrific and she alone makes this film worth watching, although
the supporting actors are terrific. My main issue is there is
absolutely no chemistry between Morgan and Stanwyck. She looks like
his older sister or something. She's too no-nonsense and he's too
soft to me.
"She's too no-nonsense and he's too soft to me. "
Well, that's just the thing, isn't it. Sometimes two people that are different do end up together...it's the old, "opposites attract" concept.
I felt like Stanwyck's Lane was trying too hard to show her interest in Jones. Her mannerisms sometimes seemed...forced and exaggerated. But then I think, maybe they wanted to portray her as someone who's never really been in love. I know it doesn't say that in the movie, but consider. She's a career woman, always busy, telling Sloan she's not in love with anyone else...maybe they intentionally wanted to make it seem like she wasn't good at "being" in love.
Oh, I absolutely disagree. I think Morgan and Stanwyck have a palpable sexual chemistry, that's rounded out with a nice sweetness and innocence. And they both played it to the hilt.
What I find fascinating however is that they are such an oddball match. Barbara was gorgeous, but unconventionally so, and even in her 20s exuded an air of sophistication, intelligence, and maturity; this allowed her to spend decades on screen and not seem to really age much. Morgan was good looking in a very pedestrian way and, at least in this film, comes off as very nice, normal to the point of near banality, but with a just a dash of down-home charm. They don't have the look of a typical, well matched onscreen couple at all.
And yet, for me at least, that lends to the appeal of the romance. It's like these two very different people are struck so hard by love that they're drawn together, even if they don't necessarily fit well.
But then again I have an affinity for screen couples like this. Stanwyck/Morgan are, for me, in the vein of say Superman's Reeves/Kidder or even Danza/Light from Who's the Boss?
I also disagree with those who say Stanwyck was badly styled here. I actually believe they did a great job at making her look fresh, youthful, and even beautiful in a few segments.
Well said. No need for me to post now. :)
I am a big fan of Barbara Stanwyck but I fell in love with her in this movie. Can't explain it, she just touched me in CIC.
This reply is so timely. I've been in the middle of watching this timeless film for the last few days, enjoying it bit by bit as I soak in this incredible time of year.
It still amazes me how much I continue to enjoy this movie, and Stanwyck only manages to come off more lovely and enchanting with each view.
Yep. Two people, who might ordinarily never choose each other, thrown together in out of the ordinary circumstances makes for a merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
I'd forgotten all about these posts. I've literally just finished my annual viewing of this ever enchanting film. Unlike seasons past, where I watched closer to Christmas day, I decided to kick off my yuletide season with CC this year. In fact, as I type, the DVD menu background pic of Stanwyck and Morgan and is up on my TV screen. It set the perfect mood and I'm fully in the Christmas spirit.
Merry Christmas!
I absolutely agree that the styling for Barbara was all wrong. It takes a lot to make a woman as beautiful and sexy as Barbara Stanwyck look (for lack of a better word) boring, but they absolutely succeeded. I still love her, and I think she was wonderful in the movie, but they definitely didn't give her a very flattering look this go around.
I'm not a huge fan of Morgan, and I wasn't bowled over by their chemistry. He just seemed a little too one-dimensional and stiff for me to really get involved with or care about his character, and that made it difficult to root for him or their relationship.
For me, this movie is all about the supporting characters. Cuddles Sakall is so sweet here! He and Stanwyck play off of each other so well, just as they did in the wonderful 'Ball of Fire' (sidenote: speaking of chemistry, I loved her with Gary Cooper!). The actor playing Mr. Yardley is also very good, as well as the housekeeper.
I have to disagree. It's true Dennis' character is a soft one-not that much in the beginning of the movie, though, he really changes throughout- and that Stanwick's is sharper, but still the combination works somehow. In their last scene together, they're playing each other very nicely. And their meeting scene is a good one two-the smiles, the glances...a fine Hollywood pair.
" You ain't running this place, Bert, WILLIAMS is!" Sgt Harris
Agree: not much spark between Morgan and Stanwyck. In fact, for me, the actor she had the most chemistry with was S.Z. Sakall.
shareI heard she was gay so no attraction makes sense. Also this film gets only 2 stars out of 4 from many reviewers so it seems to be overrated but that is subjective.
shareThat's an incredibly idiotic assumption. I don't know a thing about who Barbara Stanwyck slept with in her private time, but real world sexuality has nothing to do with screen chemistry. You'd be shocked at how many of the most sizzling romantic screen and TV couples involved at least one person who was sexually involved with people of the same gender.
shareI don't think it was so much "chemistry" as it was Morgan being simply overmatched being paired with Stanwyck. Morgan was a competent, pretty actor, and a fine singer, but as a star he was a lightweight and he was no match for someone who commanded a movie like her. Stanwyck literally blew him off the screen. She needed an equally powerful actor to counter her--a Cooper, Bogart, Fonda, MacMurray, Kirk Douglas...even Van Heflin--not a star but a damn good actor.
"Who's running this airline?!"
Interesting comments over the years to the thread I began in '08.
The movie: I watch it once every year, because it's snowy and fun
and Stanwyck is simply great. But it is simply NOT a great film.
It's too slow getting under way, and soon after the fun begins in
Connecticut, the film slows down with sitcom like scenes, overly
talky moments (mostly between Greenstreet and Gardner) and a totally
protracted finale.
Curiously, it received lukewarm reviews in '45 (released in AUGUST)
and was quickly forgotten. It has become a cable staple over the
last 15 or 20 years. But great it ain't.
I disagree. There are flaws in the film, but the chemistry isn't one of them. I thought Morgan and Stanwyck had great chemistry.
Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Criedshare
He might be a little ah shux, but I think his overall genial nature and harmless presence was a nice counterbalance to Stanwyck's jittery, elusive, and carefully cultivated persona under attack. I love how she is confronted with conflict and must worm her way out of jams. I think Stanwyck is so much fun when she ogles him. How she was skilled at gazing awestruck at him, lovelorn and at odds with her faux ties to the architect.
shareThis movie is definitely a classic, and there was great chemistry between Stanwyck and Morgan. They should have made more movies together.
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