During the 1940's, Barbara Stanwyck was either suffering or making some man suffer in his quest for sin. This is the former, a tearjerker where she plays a concert pianist who discovers she has a fatal disease yet refuses to give up her life. A rarely seen film that for some reason has become her most obscure 40's film (not even given clips in tributes to her or documentaries), "The Other Love" is an elegant film that is worthy of re- discovery. She has two great leading men here-David Niven as her very loyal doctor and Richard Conte as the dangerous race car driver who distracts her from her treatment. A lush musical score (which makes it seem like one of Ross Hunter's later tearjerkers), and a fine supporting cast, including Natalie Schafer, Gilbert Roland and Joan Lorring. I was lucky enough to catch this years ago on the late show in L.A. before the advent of cable, the old version of AMC and TCM which I have never seen this run on. From what I had recalled of the film, it was beautifully photographed with lush sets in exotic places, and is a shot above the average melodrama. Time for this to be re-discovered in tribute to its magnificent leading lady.
Recently released on DVD through Olive Films, I was delighted to discover how marvelous it still was and how likable Missy was in it. Still gorgeous, she is like no other leading lady and seems much ahead of her time. She wears some particularly stunning outfits including a sequined sweater that is to die for, pardon the pun, considering the plot. Joan Lorring particularly stands out in the supporting cast as another patient who is rather tragic. Niven's nobility and Conte's fun- loving scoundrel give Stanwck a lot of different moods to play off of, and she does so most admirably. Maybe now that this has been released commercially, it will receive the attention it has long deserved.
Recently released on DVD through Olive Films, I was delighted to discover how marvelous it still was and how likable Missy was in it. Still gorgeous, she is like no other leading lady and seems much ahead of her time. She wears some particularly stunning outfits including a sequined sweater that is to die for, pardon the pun, considering the plot. Joan Lorring particularly stands out in the supporting cast as another patient who is rather tragic. Niven's nobility and Conte's fun- loving scoundrel give Stanwck a lot of different moods to play off of, and she does so most admirably. Maybe now that this has been released commercially, it will receive the attention it has long deserved.