I was curious about those external reviews that are stupidly condescending about "Mannequin," evidence that critics who accuse a film of being formulaic and routine can exemplify the same flaws.
I want to add a good word for Alan Curtis, who in flashes reminded me, not in looks but sensitivity to nuance, of the soon to emerge Alan Garfield. A speech about his core character delivered by Joan Crawford about his being a world unto himself lacking complete empathy for others in the real world is fully realized in Curtis' performance. That includes their earliest scenes in which her gushing affections almost nauseate him though he plays it with subtlety, almost imperceptibly, though it's there.
And the script can take credit for a lot here. More than movies to which it appears to have been glibly likened it examines motives beneath character actions with some serious delving. Tracy and Crawford and all in the cast are astute in making it breathe and director Borzage masterful in highlighting what is significant in it.
I want to add a good word for Alan Curtis, who in flashes reminded me, not in looks but sensitivity to nuance, of the soon to emerge Alan Garfield. A speech about his core character delivered by Joan Crawford about his being a world unto himself lacking complete empathy for others in the real world is fully realized in Curtis' performance. That includes their earliest scenes in which her gushing affections almost nauseate him though he plays it with subtlety, almost imperceptibly, though it's there.
And the script can take credit for a lot here. More than movies to which it appears to have been glibly likened it examines motives beneath character actions with some serious delving. Tracy and Crawford and all in the cast are astute in making it breathe and director Borzage masterful in highlighting what is significant in it.