Mr. Skeffington

 

 

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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.

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3.0 out of 5 stars looking back at the inimitable claude rains
this is basically a soap opera and the divine bitchy ms davis as usual plays the divine bitchy ms davis. Read more

Published on July 4 2004 by ageofanxiety

4.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Skeffington: Blindness is the Theme
Fanny is a young and beautiful woman of the early 1920s who possesses enormous qualities of face and figure much admired by her many suitors. Read more

Published on July 6 2002 by Martin Asiner

4.0 out of 5 stars Eerie Foreshadowing of Bette's Future
I had seen "Mr. Skeffington" quite a few times as a child--it was on Sunday afternoons every once in a while--but it was only when I saw it again as an adult in a revival house... Read more

Published on Dec 21 2001 by Linda McDonnell

5.0 out of 5 stars EPIC DRAMA AT ITS FINEST...
A pre World War I society beauty, self absorbed and shallow Fanny Trellis (Bette Davis), enjoys being besieged by besotted suitors. Read more

Published on Dec 3 2001 by Lawyeraau

4.0 out of 5 stars BETTE BERNHARDT
A lengthy, classy, highly enjoyable soap opera of the first calibre. Bette Davis was indeed a phenomenal performer! Read more

Published on Oct 10 2001 by scotsladdie

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing for such a gifted cast
watching this movie i expected a five star rating (at least!) for such a distingushed cast, but instead its a jumble of bad story lines mixed into one. Read more

Published on Sep 7 2001 by patrick butler

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful movie!
I am a big fan of Bette Davis films,and this in my opinion is one of her best. She gives a wonderful and memorable performance. Read more

Published on July 23 2001 by Rosella Ann Myles

5.0 out of 5 stars Bette's Best!
Bette Davis shines in this movie, which in my opinion is the greatest work that she has ever done. She plays a great roll, the whole way through, while never letting her audience... Read more

Published on Jun 4 2001 by Mr. X

4.0 out of 5 stars Bette and Rains are superb
This is an overly long melodrama, utterly dated and in desperate need of an editor's scissors. Yet the performances of Bette Davis and the incomparable Claude Rains transform it... Read more

Published on July 22 2000 by Candace Scott

5.0 out of 5 stars one of bette's best
One of the best performences of one of the best most enchanting legends of 20th century film.. Miss davis really grasps all she is known for in this work of Sherman's through... Read more

Published on Feb 13 2000 by michael oconnor

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