THE GAY SISTERS (1942). Director: Irving Rapper.
The Gaylord Sisters have been waiting 27 years for their father's will to be probated, but a stubborn businessman named Charles Barclay (George Brent) refuses to accept their settlement offer. Seems the man has a personal grudge against one of the sisters, Fiona (Barbara Stanwyck), the reason for which comes out as this highly entertaining movie progresses. The other sisters, Evelyn (Geraldine Fitzgerald) and Susie (Nancy Coleman), don't like each other very much, with a true-to-form Evelyn doing her best to steal Susie's beau, "Gig Young" (played by Gig Young, who took his screen name from this picture). Then there's that little charmer Austin, who's sort of been adopted by Fiona. But whose little boy is he really? There are very interesting twists to this very well-acted and directed drama that transcends soap opera due to Lenore Coffee's excellent script and its sheer quality. Stanwyck is excellent, as are Fitzgerald and Coleman, and a large supporting cast including Donald Woods, Donald Crisp, Anne Revere, and Grant Mitchell. Young and Brent aren't slouches, either. Certain to stimulate debate is a scene between Stanwyck and Brent that could be taken as consensual (if cynical) sex or as rape! Irving Rapper, who is in full command of the picture, also directed Deception, The Corn is Green, Now, Voyager, and many others.
Verdict: Really the kind of movie they don't make anymore. ***1/2.
2 comments:
Has been a while but I like this film a lot too. Stanwyck is one of the greats!! Geraldine Fitzgerald had as long a career as Stanwyck, though relegated to supporting roles for most of her career. Her last great one was as Dudley Moore's grandmother in Arthur...
-Chris
I think Fitzgerald was also in that Rodney Dangerfield movie? Yes, she became a busy character actress late in life, although I think she had at least one starring part with John Garfield years earlier. Very good actress. Met her many years ago at an event but really just to say hello -- she seemed very pleasant. She had notable supporting parts with all of the greats.
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