vincentlynch-moonoi SPOILER ALERT:The first problem with this film is that none of the major characters are likable. Joan Crawford plays a self-obsessed, half-drunk socialite who ruins the lives of every husband she has had, and while wallowing in self-pity intends to ruin the life of our other main character -- John Garfield. Garfield plays a violinist who is rude to just about everyone -- because he's an artist -- including his mother and the woman who really loves him. About an hour into the film you're wishing the father had gotten his way and the young Garfield had been forced to take the fire engine (you'll understand if you choose to suffer through this film). The third major character is Oscar Levant, a pianist whose sole purpose in the film seems to be to make wisecracks which often seem out of place. I know, he was the accompanist, but that role could have been played by a bit player. The only acting I enjoyed in the film was by supporting characters -- J. Carrol Naish as Garfield's father, Ruth Nelson as Garfield's mother, and Paul Cavanagh as Crawford's husband.I will give Garfield credit for making his violin playing quite convincing, although closeups of the hands playing the violin were actually the hands of Issac Stern. Nevertheless, Garfield did a nice job here. Also, there's some great music here! By the time we reach the movie's climax, I began wishing that Crawford's character would commit suicide and put us all out of our misery. Take pills with all that alcohol. Slit your wrists on that broken glass. Walk into the waves. I didn't see it coming...but she did! If only she had done it 2 hours earlier.I know some people think this was a wonderful film, but I think it was a dog. The best thing about the film -- Crawford in the movie poster. Early in the film when his brother was complaining about Garfield making no money for the family, I was afraid Garfield was going to become a gangster. Two hours later I wished he had.

SnoopyStyle Paul Boray (John Garfield) is a world class violin player. He chose the violin as a young boy despite his father's objections. They're a poor working class family struggling in the Great Depression. He can't get ahead on his talents alone. Cellist Gina Romany (Joan Chandler) is sweet and in love with Paul. He starts playing in a radio broadcast band to pay his share and befriends pianist Sid Jeffers who brings him along to play at a party. He meets Helen (Joan Crawford) and Victor Wright. Helen starts pursuing him and becomes his benefactress. He starts to have success as Helen pushes Gina aside.I love that a party guest asks if Boray's a prize fighter. Garfield looks like a prize fighter. He walks like one and acts like one. He seems stiff and unlike any violin player around. There is also a bit too much of him playing the violin. It's not as if he's actually playing. The music interludes takes up too much time and drains away some of the tension. Joan Crawford plays what would be popularly considered today to be a cougar. She's a master at it as she coolly prowls the movie screen.

nomoons11 This film will get a lot of comparison's to the aforementioned film because of the time it was released. Crawford was coming off a triumph with Pierce and they thought...why not throw another Melodrama with Crawford in it out there and see how well it does.I think the main issue this film isn't on the scale of Mildred Pierce is the content. It's a bit dry. I mean if they could have put a different type of music into this film then it would have really had some heart. As it stands, putting a classical violinist who lives and breathes violin is just plain boring to me. Would have been nice to see maybe a jazz type of feel to it or even big band but it was almost like "Chamber Music" in the film. The story itself is fine it's just....I dunno....there's something missing.The story goes, poor kid who grows up playing the Violin catches the eye of a "Benefactor" at a party and she gets his name out there in classical concert circles. All the while she falls in love with him...as he with her. The problem is nothing in his life is first except the Violin. In her life it's booze and an uncertainty in her own mind about herself. She's very insecure. With this we get a lot of posturing about who runs the relationship and such. Who's in charge...or...who comes first.I personally really liked this film. Garfield and Crawford really do a great job in this one but the one who steals the show is Oscar Levant. Without his wisecracks and injections of reality to the characters in this film, it would just be another Melodrama with Joan Crawford in it. He's an absolute scene stealer. His piano playing is really quite stunning (he was actually a classical trained pianist before he was an actor).A really good film with great performances all around but just a little dry. It doesn't have the kick that Mildred Pierce did but it really is worth seeing. Think along the lines of Daisy Kenyon (another fine film). Just to see how beautiful Joan Crawford was at 40 is worth the price of admission.

kenjha With the help of a neurotic patroness, a poor violinist achieves fame and fortune, but can their stormy relationship survive? Garfield reached the peak of his brief career, appearing in this, "Body and Soul," and "Gentleman's Agreement" in succession. He is well cast as the driven, arrogant fiddler. Crawford is also well suited to the role of the benefactor, going for the melodramatics as only she could. Levant provides hilarious comic relief as a wise-cracking pianist. Naish and Nelson are excellent as Garfield's parents. Much of the screen time is devoted to extended excerpts from some of the greatest music ever written for the violin, a treat for classical music lovers.