This had originally been made for the small screen and had a cast to match - with the exception of Joan Crawford. But if the movies had got smaller, Joan Crawford hadn't - this is certainly no less than a full wattage star performance, even perhaps her best. It was a vehicle for a reprise of her earlier roles and a powerful demonstration of her ability to command the best for herself - best role, best dialogue, best costume, best sets, and, just possibly, no hint of competition from the rest of the cast. While she interacted with credibly, her performance utterly dominated. Even the story which was somewhat ramshackle nevertheless became coherent around the Joan Crawford character. Her bit of the ship at least would be ship-shape - or she'd damned well see that it was. It perhaps suggests that a troublesome, demanding star can be right and the audience the lasting gainer from the targeted exercise of star-power.
Saw this yesterday on Talking Pictures TV a new UK free to air terrestial TV station on Freeview ch81, dedicated to old, mainly British, movies.
Saw this yesterday on Talking Pictures TV a new UK free to air terrestial TV station on Freeview ch81, dedicated to old, mainly British, movies.