Daisy Kenyon (1947)
When I originally envisioned a love triangle between Dana Andrews and Henry Fonda, I didn’t hesitate before assigning myself to Team Dana. I meant no offense to the beautiful Henry Fonda, but usually, whenever he opens his mouth, he ruins his appeal. Dana on the other hand, usually holds his appeal throughout. Imagine my surprise when during Daisy Kenyon, I was on Team Hank!
Joan Crawford starts the film already involved with Dana. She’s an artist and he’s an extremely successful lawyer, and he’s also married. This is an Otto Preminger film, so naturally there’s going to be a bit of raciness to the plot. Dana and Otto made four movies together, so it’s also no surprise that he got a higher billing and had a much bigger part than Henry Fonda. It shows Dana’s home life, his indifferent marriage with Ruth Warrick, his sweet daughters Peggy Ann Gardner and Connie Marshall who suffer for their parents’ marital troubles. Rather than scream at her husband, Ruth takes her anger out on her children and even hits Connie.
Since Dana is such a prominent figure, it’s difficult for him to get a divorce, and he and Joan part company. She wants to get over him and start a new life, but Dana isn’t about to let her go without a struggle. Beautiful Henry Fonda enters the picture, playing a boozing war veteran who tries to help Joan get over Dana. I’ve never seen him in such a seductive role, and I don’t know if it was Otto Preminger’s directing or Hank’s excitement to finally be cast as someone with sex appeal, but he’s very convincing.
I’m not really a Joan Crawford fan, so for me, the movie would have been stronger if a different actress had been cast. There are times when you can practically see Otto’s arguments with the Hays’ Code featured in the script. Since the main plot deals with adultery, there are some scenes that appease with condemnation and others that let realism take over. Keep in mind when this film was made, and appreciate the nasty bits for how they were able to be shown.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru, and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Joan Crawford movies here!
Joan Crawford starts the film already involved with Dana. She’s an artist and he’s an extremely successful lawyer, and he’s also married. This is an Otto Preminger film, so naturally there’s going to be a bit of raciness to the plot. Dana and Otto made four movies together, so it’s also no surprise that he got a higher billing and had a much bigger part than Henry Fonda. It shows Dana’s home life, his indifferent marriage with Ruth Warrick, his sweet daughters Peggy Ann Gardner and Connie Marshall who suffer for their parents’ marital troubles. Rather than scream at her husband, Ruth takes her anger out on her children and even hits Connie.
Since Dana is such a prominent figure, it’s difficult for him to get a divorce, and he and Joan part company. She wants to get over him and start a new life, but Dana isn’t about to let her go without a struggle. Beautiful Henry Fonda enters the picture, playing a boozing war veteran who tries to help Joan get over Dana. I’ve never seen him in such a seductive role, and I don’t know if it was Otto Preminger’s directing or Hank’s excitement to finally be cast as someone with sex appeal, but he’s very convincing.
I’m not really a Joan Crawford fan, so for me, the movie would have been stronger if a different actress had been cast. There are times when you can practically see Otto’s arguments with the Hays’ Code featured in the script. Since the main plot deals with adultery, there are some scenes that appease with condemnation and others that let realism take over. Keep in mind when this film was made, and appreciate the nasty bits for how they were able to be shown.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru, and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Joan Crawford movies here!