Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

TWIST OF FATE

TWIST OF FATE (aka Beautiful Stranger/1954). Director: David Miller.

"Johnny" (Ginger Rogers), an ex-show girl, is living on the Riviera with her wealthy husband, Louis Galt (Stanley Baker). When she discovers that Louis already has a wife, Marie (Margaret Rawlings), Johnny seeks comfort in the arms of handsome potter, Pierre (Jacques Bergerac of The Hypnotic Eye). But Louis has no intention of letting Johnny go, and matters are complicated by the interference of Johnny's alleged friend, Emile (Herbert Lom), a creep who is out to get what he can. The trouble with Twist of Fate is that its minor twists are generally telegraphed and in any case don't add up to an especially intriguing story line. Rogers gives a decent dramatic performance, Baker and Bergerac are fine, but Lom walks off with the movie with his intense portrayal of the desperate Emile. But when this supporting character seems to be in more danger than the heroine, it's clear that there are decided script problems. David Miller also directed the far superior Midnight Lace with Doris Day and the even better Sudden Fear with Joan Crawford. Rogers was married to Bergerac at the time this film was made. Like all of her five marriages, it lasted only a few years.

Verdict: Not enough twists to save it from its fate. **.

2 comments:

angelman66 said...

This looks like fun, I like Ginger Rogers and David Miller's films are usually entertaining--Sudden Fear and Midnight Lace are both in my collection. So I'll check this out!
-Chris

William said...

Just be warned that it's not in the same league as the other two.