This is a very gritty movie for 1957. Divorce was not accepted like it is today. Hey you don't like your spouse get rid of them and get a new one. Bing plays a wealthy, divorced father who loves his son (plus he appears to still loves his ex) and has full custody of him. The ex wife shows up with her new husband, a man she met while still married to Bing (adultery anyone?). The new husband is a high powered attorney with the government and comes out with the ex to try and get a 50/50 custody agreement. Of course Bing elects to fight (like any father worth his salt would if he had money to do so). There are several well known actors in this one beside Crosby. Inger Stevens plays an assistant attorney to E. G. Marshall who is Bing's attorney in this case. The judge in the case, Jane Seymour, is extremely good. She is unbiased and just tries to get to the best solution for all sides. The son is played by Malcolm Brodrick and does a great job. When the judge awards full custody to the mother I was shocked. Her reasoning's are a little skewed in my opinion but hey it was 1957. Since this is an old movie you can see that romance will develop between Bing and Inger. Although how she could fall in love on short notice is beyond me, oh wait this is an old time movie. I think Crosby's acting in this movie might be his finest one. I think we get a look into his real inner self. He is reputed to have been pretty hard on his kids and possibly his wife. I am not sure why, unless it is because I am a guy, but I could never see the ex wife in any kind of a warm light. Yes the first marriage was just to give Bing a son but there have been many such in history. I am sure she got a lot of dough in the divorce. It does appears she has feelings for her son but are they from guilt? When she gives up custody of her son to the father I was rather surprised. Everything turns out for the best for the son as Bing sends his son to be with the mom.
Review of Man on Fire
