This is a movie that is entertaining to watch, but if you think about what's occurring too much, your brain might just explode!! That's because the script is amazingly bad in spots and the casting is among the worst of the 1930s. While it's obvious MGM spent a lot of money assembling such talent as Joan Crawford, Franchot Tone, Robert Young and Gary Cooper, what lamebrain thought that the first three stars would be great playing Brits?! The stars attempt no accent whatsoever, but come off as being as British as Carmen Miranda!!
The film begins with WWI. Three lifelong friends are torn apart, as the two men (Tone and Young) go off to war and the lady (Crawford) is left home alone. Due to financial difficulties, she is forced to rent the family estate to an American (Cooper), as the Americans still are neutral and Cooper thought it would be fun to live there. Over time, Cooper falls in love with Crawford and they plan on marrying. However, Cooper also finally sees what Britain is fighting for and volunteers for the Royal Air Corps--where he is soon reported killed in an accident. Heartbroken, Crawford seeks solace in the arms of Young and soon marries him. Naturally, later, Cooper turns up alive and Crawford is conflicted--stay with her husband (who is more of a friend than lover) or run off with dashing Cooper.
Now, although this plot is rather "soapy", it still could have worked--even if it seemed very, very unlikely and clichéd. However, combined with lousy casting AND two very long and unnecessary "macho interludes", the film seemed to lose its way. When I say macho interludes, I am referring to several action segments that did nothing to further the plot and strained credibility beyond the breaking point--though they were pretty exciting and looked very good for 1933. In one, Cooper takes Young along for a bombing mission--even though they fought for different armies by this point in the film (American and British--and you can't just take a friend up for laughs during wartime!). Amazingly, Young is able to shoot down four fighter planes while operating as a gunner on this plan--despite having no training whatsoever!! Later, Young returns the favor and takes Cooper on a patrol boat mission--during which time they easily sank a German merchant ship with this minuscule souped up motor boat. In fact, later in the film, this same tiny boat sinks a German battleship--something that just could not have happened in real life. If planes and tiny ships had been THIS effective, the war would have only lasted a couple weeks--not four years!
Needless to say, because of all the film's clichés, Young is killed in action by the end and this allows Crawford to finally marry Cooper. Don't worry about the fact that Young (now blinded in his last combat mission) STILL went on yet another mission in which he "bought the farm"--it was needed to further the very predictable romance between Crawford and Coop.
Overall, a very silly and impossible to believe film that still manages, despite its many problems, to entertain due to nice action sequences and excellent cinematography. But please, please DON'T take this as a good history lesson or lesson on how to write a proper romance.
The film begins with WWI. Three lifelong friends are torn apart, as the two men (Tone and Young) go off to war and the lady (Crawford) is left home alone. Due to financial difficulties, she is forced to rent the family estate to an American (Cooper), as the Americans still are neutral and Cooper thought it would be fun to live there. Over time, Cooper falls in love with Crawford and they plan on marrying. However, Cooper also finally sees what Britain is fighting for and volunteers for the Royal Air Corps--where he is soon reported killed in an accident. Heartbroken, Crawford seeks solace in the arms of Young and soon marries him. Naturally, later, Cooper turns up alive and Crawford is conflicted--stay with her husband (who is more of a friend than lover) or run off with dashing Cooper.
Now, although this plot is rather "soapy", it still could have worked--even if it seemed very, very unlikely and clichéd. However, combined with lousy casting AND two very long and unnecessary "macho interludes", the film seemed to lose its way. When I say macho interludes, I am referring to several action segments that did nothing to further the plot and strained credibility beyond the breaking point--though they were pretty exciting and looked very good for 1933. In one, Cooper takes Young along for a bombing mission--even though they fought for different armies by this point in the film (American and British--and you can't just take a friend up for laughs during wartime!). Amazingly, Young is able to shoot down four fighter planes while operating as a gunner on this plan--despite having no training whatsoever!! Later, Young returns the favor and takes Cooper on a patrol boat mission--during which time they easily sank a German merchant ship with this minuscule souped up motor boat. In fact, later in the film, this same tiny boat sinks a German battleship--something that just could not have happened in real life. If planes and tiny ships had been THIS effective, the war would have only lasted a couple weeks--not four years!
Needless to say, because of all the film's clichés, Young is killed in action by the end and this allows Crawford to finally marry Cooper. Don't worry about the fact that Young (now blinded in his last combat mission) STILL went on yet another mission in which he "bought the farm"--it was needed to further the very predictable romance between Crawford and Coop.
Overall, a very silly and impossible to believe film that still manages, despite its many problems, to entertain due to nice action sequences and excellent cinematography. But please, please DON'T take this as a good history lesson or lesson on how to write a proper romance.