Stronger Than Desire

Some say that 1939 was the best movie year ever. Well, rack up another good one for 1939: "Stronger Than Desire".

This is sort of an under-the-radar women's picture that is not your big splashy ballyhoo project but it is worthwhile being just what it is. Beyond the murder, criminal trial etc. it should be mentioned that the lead actresses Virginia Bruce and Ann Dvorak stay totally in character and deliver some true emotion, seriously and no kidding. You can tell they were both committed to their roles and to this film's point of view.

It has a rather ordinary plot but it is elevated by excellent performances and overall film craftsmanship that is far beyond the b-movie budget. All the acting is first-rate. For example, even the little girl gives a superior child-actor performance. And the gigolo/heel part is very well written and performed- you will be convinced that this guy is really evil.

This film has some cautionary points to make and an effective overall theme that some things are stronger than mere desire/flirtation. You will "get it". "Stronger Than Desire" is a good example of a lawyer/courtroom type film, with emphasis more on drama rather than accurate legal proceedings.

This is part pre-noir, part white telephone women's picture. Walter Pigeon is less annoying than he generally was. The fancy-schmancy diction that was by no means limited to him works in this role as a rich lawyer.

The ladies are a great bunch: Virginia Bruce as his suffering wife who is accused of murder. Rita Johnson as a society girl he gets off a murder rap. Ilka Chase as Bruce's pal. And the great Ann Dvorak, not at her peak here but always good, as the wife of the cad who is murdered -- maybe by Bruce.

Thr dialogue is snappy, the plot moves along. But the denouement is annoying: Yes, Dvorak shot her husband to death but he was such a nasty person he deserved it. The jury buys this and Pigeon, Bruce, and their darling child are off on a long vacation in Europe.

Stronger Than Desire - what is it exactly? Ambition, survival, conscience? Will have to watch it again to check on that. Sometimes these titles seemed pretty random ... But, this is a good movie, not one that limped through on the strength of the stars or performances or scenery or some particular aspect which kind of made up for something else. It was overall good, I thought.

Everyone has favorites. Someone here cracked on Walter Pidgeon's diction - watch it! :-) Hey, they all spoke and dressed bigger than life in that era. Remember, movies were not mirrored to everyday life people back then. I personally enjoyed that.

Man, Lee Bowman's character should go down on the super slimy list. Don't remember seeing him do one like this before.

There really were a lot of characters in this. Ilka Chase (or "Jo") stood out to me. Didn't notice her in anything before this movie. True, her friend support was pretty effusive, but I liked her. If unknown to you and you are curious as well, click on her name in the cast listing for IMDb's info on her. Very interesting. Surprising.

This B-remake of Evelyn Prentice stars Walter Pidgeon as an expensive defense lawyer who defends a woman for murder, not realizing that his own wife is involved in the case. Virginia Bruce plays Pigeon's wife, Ann Dvorak the pro bono client.

Although Stronger than Desire is a B film, it is a solid one. Pidgeon is marvelous as an attorney unsuccessfully trying to juggle home and a busy career, and Bruce is lovely as the wife with something to hide.

Rita Johnson has a fun supporting role as a defendant who is acquitted with Pidgeon's help and then wants to thank him - personally, and Ilka Chase is a family friend. A good viewing experience.

Slick, smart lawyer Walter Pidgeon defends a woman for a murder he comes to believe was committed by his own wife. The finale, in which Pidgeon unravels the more complicated truth during a series of wilder and wilder turns during cross-exam and summation, is a bit of a jaw-dropper and comes fairly close to violation of the day's Production Code.

This is a remake of EVELYN PRENTICE (1934), an earlier MGM version of the same story, based on a novel by W E Woodward, and starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. For my money the remake, STRONGER THAN DESIRE, is far and away the better of the two, with substantially stronger performances and script, and particularly better direction. Virginia Bruce has one of her best MGM roles, ever-reliable Pidgeon is terrific as the smart lawyer, and Ann Dvorak has the smaller but crucial role of the woman Pidgeon must defend. (Dvorak's then-husband, ex-actor Leslie Fenton, was the director).

This is just a B-picture from the factory at MGM, yet in casting, production values, and quality it compares to an A-release from virtually any other studio in Hollywood of that day. TCM doesn't run this one nearly often enough, though the PRENTICE version plays fairly frequently. STRONGER THAN DESIRE is the one to watch.