This is absolutely an outstanding drama starring two of the finest from Hollywood, Ethel Barrymore (as Ma Mott) and Cary Grant (as Ernie Mott) who play mother and son team in this classic story. The film is partly metaphysical and reflects on old-time family values. It touches upon such diverse topics such as war, materialism, anti-Semitism, and futility of life. When poverty dominate life, the values sometimes a takes a second seat, but Ernie changes his "drifter" life style and decides to take care of his dying widowed mother and even accepts to take the responsibility of having wife in his life in war-torn London.
The film is about a widowed woman named Ma Mott who runs a secondhand furniture shop tries her best to teach responsibility to her only son, Ernie, who slowly learns responsibility. He has two girls in his life; the glamorous Ada (June Duprez) and Aggie, a cellist (Jane Wyatt). Both like him, but he admits that he favors Ada, but eventually he losses her to her autocratic ex-husband. Ernie befriends and works for a mobster boss from whom he learns unhealthy ways of life. Near the end of the film, both Mott and his Ma have been arrested for trading their honest ways and going after a quick dishonest gain of selling stolen merchandize. Mott, bailed out of jail by his Jewish friend Mr. Weber, visits his dying mother in jail for the last time.
The movie has some unique screen writings by Clifford Odets based on the Richard Llewellyn novel. Odets was a sensation on Broadway and his work focused on the need for social and economic justice by his powerful illustration of poverty. In one instant Ernie says; "Stand back! Let the man see the rabbit," to express his desire to experience life as he sees fit. At another instant, Ernie asks "When will the world awake from this midnight, when will humanity get up from its knees?" An apparent reference to the man shackled by poverty and prevents him from doing well for the fellow men. At another instant, Ernie says; "They say money talks... all it's ever said to me is goodbye." Lela E. Rogers, the mother of actress Ginger Rogers (both well known fighters of communist sympathizers in Hollywood), testified at a committee hearing of HUAC (House Committee on Un-American Activities) that a script of the movie as a perfect example of communism and accused Clifford Odets of being a Communist sympathizer. Rogers cited the line spoken by Ernie to his mother, "You're not going to get me to work here and squeeze pennies out of little people who are poorer than I am."
The recreation of London's back streets on RKO's back lots and sound stages is magnificent, and the work by Ethel Barrymore was rewarded with an Academy award in the supporting role. Cary Grant was nominated in the best actor category but lost only to Bing Crosby. At one time Richard Llewellyn opposed to the casting of Cary Grant; he did not like a 40-year-old actor playing the 19-year-old character of Ernie Mott. Now it is all in the history, and it is a rare treat for many of his fans to see Cary doing such a spectacular job in a dramatic role.
The film is about a widowed woman named Ma Mott who runs a secondhand furniture shop tries her best to teach responsibility to her only son, Ernie, who slowly learns responsibility. He has two girls in his life; the glamorous Ada (June Duprez) and Aggie, a cellist (Jane Wyatt). Both like him, but he admits that he favors Ada, but eventually he losses her to her autocratic ex-husband. Ernie befriends and works for a mobster boss from whom he learns unhealthy ways of life. Near the end of the film, both Mott and his Ma have been arrested for trading their honest ways and going after a quick dishonest gain of selling stolen merchandize. Mott, bailed out of jail by his Jewish friend Mr. Weber, visits his dying mother in jail for the last time.
The movie has some unique screen writings by Clifford Odets based on the Richard Llewellyn novel. Odets was a sensation on Broadway and his work focused on the need for social and economic justice by his powerful illustration of poverty. In one instant Ernie says; "Stand back! Let the man see the rabbit," to express his desire to experience life as he sees fit. At another instant, Ernie asks "When will the world awake from this midnight, when will humanity get up from its knees?" An apparent reference to the man shackled by poverty and prevents him from doing well for the fellow men. At another instant, Ernie says; "They say money talks... all it's ever said to me is goodbye." Lela E. Rogers, the mother of actress Ginger Rogers (both well known fighters of communist sympathizers in Hollywood), testified at a committee hearing of HUAC (House Committee on Un-American Activities) that a script of the movie as a perfect example of communism and accused Clifford Odets of being a Communist sympathizer. Rogers cited the line spoken by Ernie to his mother, "You're not going to get me to work here and squeeze pennies out of little people who are poorer than I am."
The recreation of London's back streets on RKO's back lots and sound stages is magnificent, and the work by Ethel Barrymore was rewarded with an Academy award in the supporting role. Cary Grant was nominated in the best actor category but lost only to Bing Crosby. At one time Richard Llewellyn opposed to the casting of Cary Grant; he did not like a 40-year-old actor playing the 19-year-old character of Ernie Mott. Now it is all in the history, and it is a rare treat for many of his fans to see Cary doing such a spectacular job in a dramatic role.
Reference: None but the lonely heart (VHS), starring Cary Grant
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