BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Mikel3 We saw this last night on TCM. Overall it was very good thanks to Mr. Bogart at his evil best. Haven't seen him this sinister since 'The Return of Dr. X' a film I actually liked in spite of the criticisms. Yes, he had played many gangsters, none as psychotic as this character IMO. Barbara Stanwyck is always good, here I don't feel she was given much to do, it was really Bogart's film. Alexis Smith was also well cast as the femme fatale bad girl out to seduce and steal Mr. Carroll (Bogart) from his current life. Nigel Bruce was also in the cast acting pretty much the way he always does...like his bumbling absent minded Dr. Watson. He seems that way in just about every role, not that he doesn't do it well. Actress Ann Carter (The Curse of the Cat People) was also note worthy as Mr. Carroll's daughter who seemed to be 12 going on 40. The part the painting of his two wives played in the story was chilling as was their appearance. Haven't seen a scarier portrait since Dorian Gray's final look. The story reminded much of an earlier film 'Suspicion' with 'Gary Grant, especially the role a glass of milk played in the story. There is one line by Mr. Bogart that's reminiscent of another famous line he once said in 'Casablanca', "Geoffrey Carroll: Y'know, I have the strangest feeling that this is the beginning of a beautiful hatred". 'TTMC' had a Hitchcockian feel to the story..

Edgar Allan Pooh . . . was a famous British painter, some if not most Art Historians have come to believe that many of the Old Masters were serial killers of their nude models on the side. (As Julia Child says, "You cannot make a great omelet without cracking a good many eggs.") Art Lovers lament that there don't seem to be many Da Vincis and Michaelangelos splashing paint on canvas nowadays. THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS shows us that the REAL problem is that Society has gotten too squeamish about "cracking eggs" in a good cause, and all the CSI's running around totally curtail Artistic Freedom. God told Saint Joan (in one of His mysterious ways) to have a child predator with scores of kills as lead general of her army. Adolph Hitler and John Wayne Gacy are among a plethora of later historical figures who were frustrated painters at heart. Artist Geoffrey Carroll (Humphrey Bogart) runs into all kinds of resistance and red tape before he even can get to the would-be third Mrs. Carroll. Only Geoffrey's young daughter "Bea" turns out to be a true Art Lover here. The bottom line is that THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS relates why today's world is unlikely to enjoy a new Mona Lisa.

MikeMagi There's been a lively debate here as to whether "The Two Mrs. Carrolls" qualifies as the worst movie Humphry Bogart ever made. I have to agree -- although I haven't seen Bogart's own choice, "Swing Your Lady." The tale of an artist-cum-homicidal maniac who keeps bumping off his wives whenever a new love comes along is a trove of clichés. The performances aren't bad -- Bogart is suitably nutty, Stanwyck is cloyingly sweet, Alexis Smith is icily elegant -- given the inane dialogue they're forced to utter. I was surprised that one contributor here voted for "The Return of Dr. X" as Bogart's worst performance. I couldn't disagree more. Bogart was saddled with that film as punishment for grappling verbally with Jack Warner and gave a brilliantly campy performance as a zombie medico. Made a B chiller well worth watching. But there was no way he could save "The Two Mrs. Carrols" and I'm not sure if he even he tried.

LeonLouisRicci Gothic atmosphere and mood highlight this ultimately mediocre and tepid try at suspense and terror. The two stars are competent, although Bogart is miscast and seems to be forcing it and is especially unbelievable during the finale.The wonderful little girl softens the beast within, but that contrasted with the psychotic painter is to subtle and unbelievable to be truly effective. Some of the contrivances are incoherent and not fully consistent enough to sustain the suspenseful mood. The last act is the most disappointing and seems to rush things along rather than build the required terror and trepidation. The final few lines of dialog are ridiculous and tacked on for viewer closure.Watchable and offbeat enough to recommend, just not up to the standards of the participants.