Bright Leaf (1950)
Taking out one key ingredient, I really enjoyed Bright Leaf. It had an interesting storyline, lots of drama, beautiful costumes, and great meaty roles for the supporting actresses to sink their teeth into. Lauren Bacall and Patricia Neal, both ladies for whom I don’t normally heap on the praise, give surprisingly strong performances. What’s the one key ingredient that ruins the movie? Gary Cooper. His role could have been played by any number of big stars in Hollywood, and any of them would have done it better. Clark Gable, Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, the list goes one. Cooper just didn’t have the acting chops to take on such a great part; this was the same criticism I had for the meaty melodrama The Fountainhead.
It’s particularly interesting to see Patricia Neal’s performance in this movie, because she and her leading man had a notorious affair in real life. He treated her terribly and affected the rest of her life, and in the movie she gets to blow off some steam. Lauren Bacall is cast against type, as a businesswoman of a “gentleman’s club” with more sensitivity than Cooper gives her credit for. Jack Carson, relegated to the category of “best friend”, shares some tender scenes with Lauren when Cooper repeatedly mistreats her. You’ll also get to see Gladys George, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Patterson, and Jeff Corey in the supporting cast. If you are a Gary Cooper fan, you’ll probably love it. It’s a very good movie, notwithstanding his lack of talent.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Gary Cooper movies here!
More Jeff Corey movies here!
It’s particularly interesting to see Patricia Neal’s performance in this movie, because she and her leading man had a notorious affair in real life. He treated her terribly and affected the rest of her life, and in the movie she gets to blow off some steam. Lauren Bacall is cast against type, as a businesswoman of a “gentleman’s club” with more sensitivity than Cooper gives her credit for. Jack Carson, relegated to the category of “best friend”, shares some tender scenes with Lauren when Cooper repeatedly mistreats her. You’ll also get to see Gladys George, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Patterson, and Jeff Corey in the supporting cast. If you are a Gary Cooper fan, you’ll probably love it. It’s a very good movie, notwithstanding his lack of talent.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Gary Cooper movies here!
More Jeff Corey movies here!