It's always good to see Hume Cronyn featured in a substantial part like this one, and he plays it very "real", which is another plus. When he toned things down for the camera, he was among the best. (If you ever want to see a little elfish, 5'6'', slightly milque-toast actor transform himself into a TERRIFYING, cruel, sadistic, cunning monster, check out Hume's performance as Captain Muncie in "Brute Force" (1948), a performance which will leave you in awe of his talent).
This role, however, is very "one-note"; there's very little opportunity for Mr. Cronyn to display his range as an actor; he's just a sad-sack, droopy, confused little guy with a bad memory who wants to blow up himself and his wife because they had an argument......but again, he plays it very well (OK-- he DOES get to act somewhat heroic near the end...)
Two L-O-N-G scenes of bomb removal, which eat up lots of screen time. There are a couple of very effective moments, and the tension is well sustained. Clever and touching exchange between J.D. Cannon and Terry Carter re: skin color, as they prepare to tackle the bomb. I'm sure there are many "touchy-feely" viewers today that would howl with indignation over it.
During the final lengthy sequence with Hume carrying out the bomb himself, I began to feel we were headed for a real "switcheroo" ending, with him accidentally DROPPING the bottle-- and nothing happens--- just booze spilling out. And we'd realize that, among the many things he mis-remembered, he had NOT used Nitro in making the bomb, only liquor. This would have introduced a few interesting issues into the closing minutes of the drama. I actually felt disappointed that something along this line didn't happen, since we were taken for a VERY LONG ride in this final sequence, and I felt that our attention should have been rewarded with a more imaginative, unexpected ending. But, as it was, the conclusion was satisfying enough, if predictable.
LR
This role, however, is very "one-note"; there's very little opportunity for Mr. Cronyn to display his range as an actor; he's just a sad-sack, droopy, confused little guy with a bad memory who wants to blow up himself and his wife because they had an argument......but again, he plays it very well (OK-- he DOES get to act somewhat heroic near the end...)
Two L-O-N-G scenes of bomb removal, which eat up lots of screen time. There are a couple of very effective moments, and the tension is well sustained. Clever and touching exchange between J.D. Cannon and Terry Carter re: skin color, as they prepare to tackle the bomb. I'm sure there are many "touchy-feely" viewers today that would howl with indignation over it.
During the final lengthy sequence with Hume carrying out the bomb himself, I began to feel we were headed for a real "switcheroo" ending, with him accidentally DROPPING the bottle-- and nothing happens--- just booze spilling out. And we'd realize that, among the many things he mis-remembered, he had NOT used Nitro in making the bomb, only liquor. This would have introduced a few interesting issues into the closing minutes of the drama. I actually felt disappointed that something along this line didn't happen, since we were taken for a VERY LONG ride in this final sequence, and I felt that our attention should have been rewarded with a more imaginative, unexpected ending. But, as it was, the conclusion was satisfying enough, if predictable.
LR
