ShangLuda
Admirable film.
Onlinewsma
Absolutely Brilliant!
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
bigverybadtom
Lillian Hellman may or may not have been an actual member of the Communist Party, but she was definitely a sympathizer, and did not criticize Stalinism when other leftists did. However, the events in the play were reportedly based on events in Hellman's own family.The title comes from a Bible verse mentioned in the movie about "little foxes" (probably a mistranslation) threatening tender grapevines, and the story itself is about three siblings of a wealthy Southern family who contrive to become even richer by building a cotton mill in the town, paying their workers poorly while reaping all the profits. One brother owns the local bank, which he runs with his dense son, another brother has married a woman solely to gain ownership of her cotton fields, and Regina, the sister, has married a sickly man who is away being treated for heart troubles. Trouble is, time is running short and everyone's funds are required to ensure that the deal goes through- and besides that, Regina's husband must be home before his money can be accessed, so Regina details her daughter to bring her father home on the train.But further troubles develop when Regina decides she wants a bigger share than the third originally offered to her, and furthermore, when the husband makes it home, he refuses to go along with the plan. Can the brothers find another way to get the money-illegally- and get away with it? The story grows in unpleasantness as the ill intentions of all the siblings are brought out, and the daughter comes to learn just how terrible things in her family have been.Good performances by all involved carry the initially-confusing story through, though the end is too ambiguous. What is Regina thinking when we she her face in the final frame? It can only be guessed.
utgard14
A conniving woman (Bette Davis) and her loathsome brothers try to force her estranged dying husband (Herbert Marshall) into a business scheme that will exploit the poor people of their town. A tale of greed and corruption in the Deep South at the turn of the last century. Lillian Hellman adapted her own stage play. Well directed by William Wyler. Bette naturally owns the movie. Also fine performances from Herbert Marshall and Teresa Wright. Nice support, particularly from Charles Dingle and Patricia Collinge. Not a lot of likable characters in this one. It's a powerful drama, well crafted for sure, but you'll probably need antidepressants after.
GeoPierpont
Like Bette needed the ghost white makeup to further insure we comprehend her icy cold character? Giveth thy viewer a primal break!! She constantly twirled both arms in a windmill fashion to show evil hummingbird motion? I was very confused as to why she played this character so over the top. In preparation for "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" I could at least appreciate the Toland Touch, the swampy location shots in LA as well as the sumptuous sets. The saccharine Zan and David were not anywhere near enough to offset the tortuous scene after scene of scheming death, destruction and desolation.This was extremely difficult to watch as it became a horror film and was just waiting for the zigzag lightning streaks to suddenly appear on her hair. Yikes!Can only recommend for Toland's work and sets. Bette be damned for this!
Aleksander Domberg
This movie would not be my first choice if I was to pick a movie to watch on a Friday night. I think for what it was about, content wise, the movie was pretty interesting. It started getting old though, and movies that just shine light on how greedy people can be gets disappointing after a while. I think the camera work was ordinary, nothing too special happening. I think the actors and actresses did a good job though, and credit should be given to the leading actress for being so cold and evil. I think this movie has a very important deep message that it was trying to convey, which in the end love triumphs all. This movie pertained to social-cultural issues of that time, but those issues still apply to today.
