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| Barbara Stanwyck, A+ in an atypical position, as a weak, rich girl, who overhears a plan for homicide, in 1948’s movie noir suspense movie, “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity.” |
*Spoiler alerts forward*
The 1948 film model of Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity brought about some
criticism with some critics and movie followers on the time—and even thereafter. It
was tailored from an immediate basic radio play by Lucille Fletcher. The star
was Agnes Moorehead as a wealthy hypochondriac who overhears a telephone
dialog of a plot to commit homicide that very night time. It then seems she
is to be the sufferer! The radio play was a one-character present, providing a tour
de power for Moorehead.
When Paramount and Hal
Wallis snapped up the movie rights, casting a star identify was commonplace to hold a
film. I feel plenty of mature actresses might have been nice within the position,
however Hal picked certainly one of his favorites, Barbara Stanwyck.
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| The gradual unraveling of Leona Stevenson when she realizes that she is to be a homicide sufferer is beautifully performed by Barbara Stanwyck in “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity.” |
Since then, there’s
been a little bit of a bias towards the film model, favoring the radio play. It
goes one thing like this: Hollywood buys the rights of the half hour play,
casts an enormous film star and pads it out to 90 minutes. However the play is way
superior, in much less time, don’t you understand. This is the reason I by no means
bothered to see the movie model of Sorry,
Unsuitable Quantity till just lately.
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| Agnes Moorehead, who originated the position of Leona Stevenson for radio, in “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity.” |
I get the criticism, however I nonetheless
desire the movie. I am not of the varsity that Agnes Moorehead was robbed and that
the film model was watered down as a result of it was fleshed out to 90 minutes. (Playwright Fletcher additionally wrote the film screenplay). Aggie was an excellent actress, however listening to her change into more and more
hysterical, together with her naturally querulous voice escalating, was extra
grating than nice, for me. Agnes received a lot reward for her supporting
scenes as a nympho neurotic in Darkish
Passage the yr earlier than, however Moorehead’s few scenes had been a lot for me. I can’t
think about 90 minutes of Agnes’ overstated shrillness entrance and middle. I a lot
most popular Barbara Stanwyck’s contrasting understatement. The again story introduced
Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity to only shy of 90
minutes, which was good, typical for a noir thriller.
Barbara Stanwyck was a no-nonsense girl who normally performed robust characters, is sort of good in
the position of an unsympathetic, spoiled daddy’s woman. Stanwyck’s innate
likability makes Leona Stevenson extra empathetic, regardless of the actual fact the
character is mainly a royal ache. Stanwyck was one of many appearing greats of
her period and goes from imperious to insecure to incoherent with concern and
helplessness, all with out overacting.
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| By the finale of 1948’s “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity,” Barbara Stanwyck’s spoiled wealthy matron is on the finish of her tether–and quickly, her life! |
The film is crammed
out with flashbacks of Leona and her purchased and paid for husband Henry’s
relationship. There, the powerful aspect of Stanwyck as Leona matches Barbara like a
glove. Their courtship and relationship is skillfully depicted, particularly as
the wedding deteriorates. Henry needs to make his personal means, working for her
father, whereas the daddy and daughter each desire a docile pet. This causes Henry
to ultimately take drastic motion, as he will get combined up with unsavory characters
that find yourself calling in to gather on their favors to him. Henry has to take
drastic motion, placing a success out on his spouse.
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| A flashback scene of the girl used to getting what she needs is extra acquainted Barbara Stanwyck territory, in 1948’s “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity.” |
The scenes of
Barbara’s deluxe life-style is intermingled together with her father’s crude depiction of
wealth and the drug dealing criminals husband Henry will get combined up with, which is
depicted in jarring movie noir model.
The forged is terrific,
from Stanwyck, right down to Ed Begley, Sr. enjoying her powerful dad, to William Conrad
as a chilling baddie, and Ann Richards as Henry’s good-hearted former
girlfriend. Burt Lancaster is well-cast, since he may very well be robust or shady,
although this isn’t the type of position that makes for an excellent main man. A
bit like when Kirk Douglas performed Barbara Stanwyck’s even weaker purchased husband
in 1946’s The Unusual Love of Martha
Ivers. Each Burt and Kirk quickly bought away from supporting movie divas as
weasels and driving in their very own film autos.
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| Burt Lancaster, in certainly one of his early roles, because the trophy husband for wealthy woman Barbara Stanwyck in 1948’s “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity.” |
The movie model of Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity is extraordinarily
trendy, proper from the opening credit, and you might be sucked proper in. On the
finish, because the noisy metropolis practice roars by, when Leona is killed in her luxurious
condominium, is one other assertion of existence juxtaposed towards each other.
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| The 1948 movie model of “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity” is trendy suspense proper from the opening credit! |
Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity has had varied TV variations starring such
various actors as Mildred Natwick, Shelley Winters, and Loni Anderson! Geraldine Web page would have been nice because the
high-strung heiress within the ‘60s or early ‘70s.
The course by
Anatole Litvak is robust, and he would direct Olivia de Havilland in The Snake Pit the identical yr. The cinematography
by Sol Polito is ideal for a movie noir suspense movie, as trendy as his work
in 1940’s The Letter with Bette
Davis. The rating by Franz Waxman is highly effective and dramatic, elevating the suspense.
Edith Head, a designer fave of Stanwyck’s, heightens the storytelling with
Barbara’s robes depicting youth and wealth within the flashback scenes, and her
costly however fussy-looking dressing robe because the bedridden matron.
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| Barbara Stanwyck because the youthful Leona, wearing tender ermine, towards a childhood portrait of herself, in 1948’s “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity.” |
The primary set, with
Leona’s whining following all the best way down the winding stairs, previous the servants’
rooms, to the lobby, and the kitchen, all depicting an costly life-style, however
no indicators of life.
Within the finale, in true
noir model, the married couple let their guard down in the course of the remaining telephone
name. But it surely’s too late, the plan is put into motion, and the chilling remaining
line is the title of this film!
Right here’s
my have a look at the extra charming aspect of Barbara Stanwyck, in 1945’s vacation
favourite, Christmas in Connecticut: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/12/christmas-in-connecticut-1945.html
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| Fascinating second in 1948’s “Sorry, Unsuitable Quantity,” when Barbara Stanwyck’s spoiled wealthy girl catches herself in a uncommon second of seeing her precise self. |
