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| Barbara Stanwyck, A+ in an atypical function, as a weak, rich lady, who overhears a plan for homicide, in 1948’s movie noir suspense movie, “Sorry, Improper Quantity.” |
*Spoiler alerts forward*
The 1948 film model of Sorry, Improper Quantity induced some
criticism with some critics and movie followers on the time—and even thereafter. It
was tailored from an on the spot traditional radio play by Lucille Fletcher. The star
was Agnes Moorehead as a wealthy hypochondriac who overhears a telephone
dialog of a plot to commit homicide that very evening. It then seems she
is to be the sufferer! The radio play was a one-character present, providing a tour
de drive for Moorehead.
When Paramount and Hal
Wallis snapped up the movie rights, casting a star title was commonplace to hold a
film. I feel a lot of mature actresses may have been nice within the function,
however Hal picked one in all his favorites, Barbara Stanwyck.
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| The gradual unraveling of Leona Stevenson when she realizes that she is to be a homicide sufferer is fantastically performed by Barbara Stanwyck in “Sorry, Improper Quantity.” |
Since then, there’s
been a little bit of a bias in opposition to the film model, favoring the radio play. It
goes one thing like this: Hollywood buys the rights of the half hour play,
casts an enormous film star and pads it out to 90 minutes. However the play is much
superior, in much less time, don’t you realize. That is why I by no means
bothered to see the movie model of Sorry,
Improper Quantity till just lately.
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| Agnes Moorehead, who originated the function of Leona Stevenson for radio, in “Sorry, Improper Quantity.” |
I get the criticism, however I nonetheless
desire the movie. I am not of the college that Agnes Moorehead was robbed and that
the film model was watered down as a result of it was fleshed out to 90 minutes. (Playwright Fletcher additionally wrote the film screenplay). Aggie was an amazing actress, however listening to her change into more and more
hysterical, together with her naturally querulous voice escalating, was extra
grating than nice, for me. Agnes received a lot reward for her supporting
scenes as a nympho neurotic in Darkish
Passage the 12 months earlier than, however Moorehead’s few scenes have been a lot for me. I can’t
think about 90 minutes of Agnes’ overstated shrillness entrance and middle. I a lot
most well-liked Barbara Stanwyck’s contrasting understatement. The again story introduced
Sorry, Improper Quantity to simply shy of 90
minutes, which was good, typical for a noir thriller.
Barbara Stanwyck was a no-nonsense lady who often performed robust characters, is sort of good in
the function of an unsympathetic, spoiled daddy’s woman. Stanwyck’s innate
likability makes Leona Stevenson extra empathetic, regardless of the very fact the
character is mainly a royal ache. Stanwyck was one of many performing greats of
her period and goes from imperious to insecure to incoherent with worry and
helplessness, all with out overacting.
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| By the finale of 1948’s “Sorry, Improper Quantity,” Barbara Stanwyck’s spoiled wealthy matron is on the finish of her tether–and quickly, her life! |
The film is crammed
out with flashbacks of Leona and her purchased and paid for husband Henry’s
relationship. There, the powerful facet of Stanwyck as Leona suits Barbara like a
glove. Their courtship and relationship is skillfully depicted, particularly as
the wedding deteriorates. Henry desires to make his personal manner, working for her
father, whereas the daddy and daughter each need a docile pet. This causes Henry
to ultimately take drastic motion, as he will get combined up with unsavory characters
that find yourself calling in to gather on their favors to him. Henry has to take
drastic motion, placing successful out on his spouse.
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| A flashback scene of the girl used to getting what she desires is extra acquainted Barbara Stanwyck territory, in 1948’s “Sorry, Improper Quantity.” |
The scenes of
Barbara’s deluxe way of life is intermingled together with her father’s crude depiction of
wealth and the drug dealing criminals husband Henry will get combined up with, which is
depicted in jarring movie noir model.
The forged is terrific,
from Stanwyck, right down to Ed Begley, Sr. taking part in her powerful dad, to William Conrad
as a chilling baddie, and Ann Richards as Henry’s good-hearted former
girlfriend. Burt Lancaster is well-cast, since he may very well be robust or shady,
although this isn’t the type of function that makes for an amazing main man. A
bit like when Kirk Douglas performed Barbara Stanwyck’s even weaker purchased husband
in 1946’s The Unusual Love of Martha
Ivers. Each Burt and Kirk quickly acquired away from supporting movie divas as
weasels and driving in their very own film automobiles.
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| Burt Lancaster, in one in all his early roles, because the trophy husband for wealthy woman Barbara Stanwyck in 1948’s “Sorry, Improper Quantity.” |
The movie model of Sorry, Improper Quantity is extraordinarily
trendy, proper from the opening credit, and you might be sucked proper in. On the
finish, because the noisy metropolis prepare roars by, when Leona is killed in her luxurious
house, is one other assertion of life juxtaposed in opposition to each other.
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| The 1948 movie model of “Sorry, Improper Quantity” is trendy suspense proper from the opening credit! |
Sorry, Improper Quantity has had varied TV variations starring such
numerous actors as Mildred Natwick, Shelley Winters, and Loni Anderson! Geraldine Web page would have been nice because the
high-strung heiress within the ‘60s or early ‘70s.
The route by
Anatole Litvak is powerful, and he would direct Olivia de Havilland in The Snake Pit the identical 12 months. The cinematography
by Sol Polito is ideal for a movie noir suspense movie, as trendy as his work
in 1940’s The Letter with Bette
Davis. The rating by Franz Waxman is highly effective and dramatic, elevating the suspense.
Edith Head, a designer fave of Stanwyck’s, heightens the storytelling with
Barbara’s robes depicting youth and wealth within the flashback scenes, and her
costly however fussy-looking dressing robe because the bedridden matron.
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| Barbara Stanwyck because the youthful Leona, wearing comfortable ermine, in opposition to a childhood portrait of herself, in 1948’s “Sorry, Improper Quantity.” |
The primary set, with
Leona’s whining following all the best way down the winding stairs, previous the servants’
rooms, to the lobby, and the kitchen, all depicting an costly way of life, however
no indicators of life.
Within the finale, in true
noir model, the married couple let their guard down through the last telephone
name. Nevertheless it’s too late, the plan is put into motion, and the chilling last
line is the title of this film!
Right here’s
my take a look at the extra charming facet of Barbara Stanwyck, in 1945’s vacation
favourite, Christmas in Connecticut: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/12/christmas-in-connecticut-1945.html
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| Fascinating second in 1948’s “Sorry, Improper Quantity,” when Barbara Stanwyck’s spoiled wealthy lady catches herself in a uncommon second of seeing her precise self. |