Looks Like They Threw The Production Together Overnight

boblipton

If this remake of 1931's ILLICIT was Bette Davis' first starring role, that would go a long way towards explaining why she looks like she was starving to death and had been dressed in her work clothes by a four-year old. No one ever claimed that Bette Davis was an object of lust for the male American public -- although there is a moment about the 35-minute mark when, standing on the street, spotting Gene Raymond getting into a cab with Kay Strozzi, when her eyes flash. However, everything about this production looks like Darryl F. Zanuck realized there was a hole in the schedule, picked out a script from the archives, and by the next day they shooting.

It's not simply that Orry-Kelly doesn't know how to dress Miss Davis. It looks like Jack Okey doesn't know how to dress a set. Neither is the movie populated by actors who had long careers with the Warners, Miss Davis and Frank McHugh aside. Within two years, it seems, everyone else was reduced to bits or gone. If Miss Davis' career survived this mess, it is because she speaks her lines with absolute conviction.

score 7/10

boblipton 3 October 2019

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw5158177/