The Man Who Came Back is not a good film. It motives are off the wall. But as Johnny Carson says, "Buy the premise, buy the bit." Farrell's father has him shanghaied, watched and tempted by a professional, yet Farrell still loves him. Any ordinary person..... Well, that's only part of it. Farrell and Gaynor change attitudes at the drop of a hat, any one of which would cause the separation of ordinary persons.... Well, I guess no one in this film was ordinary.
That said, Farrell and Gaynor are fine as alcoholic and opium addict. He's the most convincing drunk I've ever seen and great as a spoiled rich kid. Gaynor pulls off her floozy with world-weariness and a curled lip, so against type as to be amazing. And the reveal near the end is stunning. This may well be their best acting.
This the sixth pairing I've seen and certainly the worst. Our daughter Diane was named after the heroine in Seventh Heaven. I think Lucky Star is the most beautiful film ever shot. But I'll watch The Man Who Came Back again because I still don't believe it.
That said, Farrell and Gaynor are fine as alcoholic and opium addict. He's the most convincing drunk I've ever seen and great as a spoiled rich kid. Gaynor pulls off her floozy with world-weariness and a curled lip, so against type as to be amazing. And the reveal near the end is stunning. This may well be their best acting.
This the sixth pairing I've seen and certainly the worst. Our daughter Diane was named after the heroine in Seventh Heaven. I think Lucky Star is the most beautiful film ever shot. But I'll watch The Man Who Came Back again because I still don't believe it.