Dir: Vincente Minellli | Cast: Lauren Bacall, Gregory Peck | US Comedy 118’
Despite the use throughout of interior monologues, in the year of ’12 Angry Men’ the screenplay incredibly won an Oscar for this glossy fifties attempt at a screwball comedy complete with Runyonesqe gangsters.
In the lead Gregory Peck woefully lacks the light touch, although the film is aided by Minnelli’s customary dramatic use of colour. But the presence of Lauren Bacall in the role originally intended for Grace Kelly – although considering her athletic build Katherine Hepburn might be a more apt comparison – is a more than adequate substitute.
However the funniest cast members are probably Dolores Gray and Mickey Shaughnessy as a brassy showgirl and a punch-drunk fighter who sleeps with his eyes open. @RichardChattenÂ