When I recuperate from this hectic emotional brawl, I'll check out Glasgow's novel and see what sort of story she meant to tell. The manipulative, predatory female role of Stanley (Bette Davis) is so blatantly drawn that the story is spoiled. There is no balance in the cinematic telling. Quite simply, this girl Godzilla wants what she wants, and gets it at any price. The final scene between Uncle William (Charles Coburn) and Stanley is sort of like T-Rex in Jurassic Park coming upon a fear-frozen victim. The overall effect of dripping self-pity in two styles--the doormat sister(Olivia de Haviland as Roy) and the manipulative one (our Stanley): what a cheery way to spend an hour and a half. Bring two hankies. Certainly distracting from the headlines and real personal tragedies of 1942.
Review of In This Our Life
