Mr. Skeffington

Whether you are going to enjoy or get into this film depends on a few factors. First of all, you must believe that every man is tripping over himself to win the hand of the woman considered the most beautiful and desirable in New York, Bette Davis. Now Davis was certainly attractive, but it's a real stretch to consider her that kind of once-in-a-lifetime beauty. You must then be willing to spend two and a half hours watching a vain, self-centered woman use her beauty, abuse her family, and then try to find sympathy for her when irony deals her exactly what she deserves. Obviously, I had some problems with this film. It tells the story of Fanny Trellis who later becomes Fanny Skeffington, the object of every man's affections, who can't see beyond her own mirror to see the events of the world or the pain she causes others. She marries Claude Rains for money and security for her family, but her marriage unravels and eventually so does her beauty. The character of Fanny is not sympathetic, and I found it hard to get past that, although thankfully she does have a sense of humour, which helps. Davis, using a higher pitched voice, doesn't shrink away from portraying Fanny as she is, and her appearance as the older Fanny is startling given how we know she aged in real life. Rains is his excellent self as usual in this film, really capturing the heart of the story. Not surprisingly, his absence from most of the last half of the film hurt it for me, as I found it long and badly in need of editing. There are some good moments in the film, but since I found little to like in the central character, there wasn't much else except Rains to appreciate.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents "MR. SKEFFINGTON" (1944) (145 min/B&W) -- Starring: Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Walter Abel, George Coulouris, Richard Waring, Marjorie Riordan, Robert Shayne, John Alexander, Jerome Cowan, Johnny Mitchell, Dorothy Peterson, Peter Whitney, Bill Kennedy

Directed by Vincent Sherman

The incomparable Bette Davis and the always-charming Claude Rains, in one of those good, solid melodramas - they make quite a marvelous screen pair, both pros from the old school of acting. Their voices, accents, speech patterns are classic, also mesmerizing in this film.

"Mr. Skeffington" is a classic. The film is over two hours, it keeps your interest and a worthwhile film to see. It also features excellent performances by Walter Abel, George Coulouris, and Marjorie Riordan.

Nominated Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Claude Rains), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Bette Davis)

Another in a long list of wonderful melodramas, "Mr. Skeffington" is a very good classic film that I fear has been forgotten throughout the years. Its performances and adequately compelling story are enough to recommend it to classic film lovers, particularly those who are fans of Bette Davis or Claude Rains.

* Special Footnote: -- Bette Davis was not the first choice for the role of Fanny. The part was first offered first to Merle Oberon and then to Hedy Lamarr who both turned it down.

** Another Special Footnote: -- Bette Davis' final Oscar-nominated performance while under contract with Warner Brothers.

BIOS:
1. Vincent Sherman [aka: Abraham Orovitz] (Director)
Date of Birth: 16 July 1906 - Vienna, Georgia
Date of Death: 18 June 2006 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

2. Bette Davis [aka: Ruth Elizabeth Davis]
Date of Birth: 5 April 1908 - Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Date of Death: 6 October 1989 - Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France

3. Claude Rains
Date of Birth: 10 November 1889 - Camberwell, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 30 May 1967 - Laconia, New Hampshire

4. Walter Abel
Date of Birth: 6 June 1898 - St. Paul, Minnesota
Date of Death: 26 March 1987 - Essex, Connecticut

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 145 min on DVD ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (June 14, 2005)

From her first appearance as Fanny Trellis Skeffington, Bette Davis--never pretty--completely persuades the viewer that she is a great beauty. Claude Rains is patient and endearing as her beleaguered husband. But the movie is simply too long and suffers from seemingly endless repetition of its heavy-handed and offensive message: "A woman is only beautiful when she is loved."

At the end, when Fanny's beauty has at last eroded (due to illness, not a lack of affection from suitors, which seems to be something of a contradiction), she at last finds love for her long-suffering husband. But it's awfully convenient that she develops an appreciation for him only after he is blinded, and cannot what she looks like.

The Holocaust figures briefly but significantly in the movie. Although its horrors are never seen directly, the mention of concentration camps and Nazi brutality is noteworthy in a movie made in 1944. Apparently _somebody_ knew what was happening in Europe, and knew well enough to include it in a movie before the war had ended.