I've read a collection of Damon Runyan short stories and must admit I enjoy entering his world of crazily-named, usually low-life but regularly loveable rogues, trying to eke out a living on the streets of Depression and Post-Depression Era New York. I was interested them to see him named as the actual producer of this movie. I've also been taking a deep dive of late into the life and career of Lucille Ball who acted in movies for some ten years before finally breaking through in the new medium of television. I believe she said that this was her favourite of the many films in which she acted and one of her few starring roles. She's also acting alongside a fine troupe of actors and is playing opposite Henry Fonda so there was a lot to intrigue me here.
The main problem I had with the film was just how unpleasant Ball's Gloria character was, who even before she is cruelly struck down and made a cripple by her jealous big-shot former boyfriend, lords it over the warm-hearted guyscand dolls who offer her to my mind undeserved support to the extent where they effectively become her drudges, so much so that she only deigns to answer to the name "Your Highness".
Chief amongst them is Fonda's lowly Hotel boy Pinkerton, nicknamed Little Pinks who is completely infatuated with her and so panders to her every wish and keeps coming back for more even when she insults him and makes it quite clear that she will never reciprocate his feelings for her.
It's to Ball's credit that she carries through her mean demeanour to the, as it turns out bitter end, but i probably enjoyed more seeing the likes of Eugene Pallette, Ray Collins and especially the wonderful Agnes Moorhead havibf fun with Runyon's rich characterisations and dialogue. Fonda as Pinks tries the viewer's patience with his meek submission to Gloria's petty tantrums but in the end he finds his spine and ingeniously gives Her Highness the send-off perhaps only he thinks she merits.
An interesting movie for lots of different reasons and an entertaining one too, it's interesting to think, amongst other things, what would have become of Ball's career if the film had in fact catapulted her to stardom then and there.
The main problem I had with the film was just how unpleasant Ball's Gloria character was, who even before she is cruelly struck down and made a cripple by her jealous big-shot former boyfriend, lords it over the warm-hearted guyscand dolls who offer her to my mind undeserved support to the extent where they effectively become her drudges, so much so that she only deigns to answer to the name "Your Highness".
Chief amongst them is Fonda's lowly Hotel boy Pinkerton, nicknamed Little Pinks who is completely infatuated with her and so panders to her every wish and keeps coming back for more even when she insults him and makes it quite clear that she will never reciprocate his feelings for her.
It's to Ball's credit that she carries through her mean demeanour to the, as it turns out bitter end, but i probably enjoyed more seeing the likes of Eugene Pallette, Ray Collins and especially the wonderful Agnes Moorhead havibf fun with Runyon's rich characterisations and dialogue. Fonda as Pinks tries the viewer's patience with his meek submission to Gloria's petty tantrums but in the end he finds his spine and ingeniously gives Her Highness the send-off perhaps only he thinks she merits.
An interesting movie for lots of different reasons and an entertaining one too, it's interesting to think, amongst other things, what would have become of Ball's career if the film had in fact catapulted her to stardom then and there.