Reviews

Glenn Ford renders his usual brand of under-played finesse in "Young Man With Ideas." Fortunately these roles offer a departure from earlier assignments for both he and his leading lady. With polished style Ford woos the audience to embrace Maxwell Webster, a shy "every-man" who longs to break free of a dismal law career in Montana. His wife Julie is delivered with verve by the competent Ruth Roman. Equipped with her trademark upturned collars Roman blossoms as an apt comedienne sidekick to Ford's straight man. Nina Foch perfectly balances this picture injecting some much needed sexual energy as Joyce Laramie a cool "blonde with a brain" law student. Standout supports include Denise Darcel playing Dorianne Gray, a broad lounge act (or a lounge act broad) singing "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)." The beloved Mary Wickes pops in nearly tearing the scenery from it's hinges, as a kooky stage-mom neighbor she takes only her budding child-star Son as prisoner.

In what otherwise may have been a ho-hum movie given the ordinary A minus treatment, this dusty gem shines like a new penny under expert direction of Mitchell Leisen, a largely well-paced screenplay by Arthur Sheekman and a stalwart cast.

Cinematically, Per Fly's film contains all the elements of excellence accompanied by good performances rendered by the cast. Opening sequences signaled that the audience was on board for a good ride, unfortunately the ride ended all too soon. If this was not part of a trilogy I would have walked out after 30 minutes.

Scandinavian films are known for quiet story telling which I usually appreciate, but this is just badly paced. That low hum within the soundtrack must have been the sound of paint drying on what could have been a good picture. One would think that four screenwriters could deliver a compelling story-line, maybe therein lies a problem.

Considering the high quality of Fly's previous entries in the trilogy ("Bænken" & "Arven") he should have stopped at a duo or hired a objective Editor. Twenty minutes less running time may have provided a tightening and focus necessary to hold our attention. At least it would have made for a better paced film which may have found an international audience. Sadly, Drabet misses the mark of excellence by approximately half a kilometer of footage.