Gefangene des Stroms

Woke up in the early-AM with the opening credits to this film just rolling on the screen. Tired as I still was, I couldn't take my eyes off of it and watched the whole thing. Beautifully-shot. Script sensitively handles both Van Johnson's character's alcoholism and the familial-strife at its roots - very adept for it's day. Capably acted by all.

And I agree with previous comments: Ruth Roman is someone whose career is deserving of a serious re-visiting. She rarely seemed to get choice parts, but always managed to impress. Indeed, some of the films she was in may have been bad but from what I've seen, SHE was never the reason.

Here is yet another example of a good, solid 1950's film that is wrongfully ignored/neglected for the simple reason that it doesn't star "Marilyn," "Marlon," or "Audrey".

Usually Van Johnson is cast as a nice guy next door, the kid from just around the block who just happens to be around when everybody wants to dance--and in many ways, he was the happy simpleton to June Allyson's perky plans, or played off Esther Williams by just being nice and attractive in a chubby way. Here, Johnson earns his chops as an escaped convict with a severe drinking problem who runs to his brother for help only to meet the same brick wall the two of them built growing up. The brother, played coldly by stolid Joseph Cotten, is a wealthy rancher, but has problems of his own, having married for reasons never quite made clear, but mired in a long-time childless relationship with svelte, intelligent Ruth Roman, here, as in so many films, holding an anchor on some out of control emotions. Except for what I felt was an unnecessarily saccharin final five minutes, the plot zips with some intensity along the Mexican-American border, and the assured direction of veteran Henry Hathaway assures the viewer of a Cain-Abel story with modern ranch trimmings. Johnson, who passed away in 2008, could always be relied upon to be an easy leading man in musicals, from Two Girls and A Sailor, In The Good Old Summertime (with Judy Garland), but also served well in wartime dramas Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and Caine Mutiny; in this film, however, Johnson stretched his talents beyond the usual and turned in his most distinctive role.

A rich rancher and lawyer has to accommodate his on-the-run brother who has escaped from a prison. Joseph Cotten has had better parts to play than this one, although it isn't too bad. A lot of the best scenes are in his ranch house, which with the set decorations and DeLuxe color looks really great. As well is a get together that occurs at another ranch house which looks equally cool. There's a lot of drinking going on and talking about drinking, but Van Johnson, who's supposed to be the alcoholic brother on the lam from Joliet for killing someone in a bar fight doesn't have a part that captures the essence of alcoholism very effectively. In the end his part is not believable. Jack Carson, however, who plays Cotten's neighbor on the next ranch over, is great as the movie heads into a manhunt for Johnson, with Carson leading a posse. The central story of Cotten and Johnson as two brothers who overcome their differences has been done so many times that it isn't much of a story. Ruth Roman, as Cotten's wife is OK though her sexual frustration with Cotten (they sleep in separate rooms and have been doing so for a long time) is also not believable. If she had started something with Johnson, this film would have been launched into another orbit. As it is, it's burdened by predictability with only the cool sets, DeLuxe color, and Carson to save it.

Enjoyed this great Classic film from 1956 starring a great cast of actors, namely: Van Johnson, (Donald Martin) who was serving time in Joliet Illinois Prison and seeks the help of his brother, Joseph Cotton, (P M Martin) who is a very successful rancher and well known throughout the community. P M is not very happy about his brother showing up, because he never told anyone about his brother and that he had a bad problem with drinking which caused most of the problems in his life.

Ruth Roman, (Nora Martin) played the role as wife to P M who did not really get along and now that Donald Martin appears, his wife becomes interested in her husband's new friend, not knowing it is his brother. There is plenty of action and this is truly a great classic from the Year 1956, enjoy. Nora Martin teaches her husband about being your Brother's Keeper, the hard way.

On the surface Bottom of the Bottle seems like it could be really interesting. I like movies that show the middle 50's, there's a really nifty house with a kitchen right out of a mid 50's design book, it is beautifully shot with some nice scenery outdoors.

The key for me to really enjoy a movie is when I get hooked into the characters. I have to be interested in them, worried about them, find them likable or appealing even if in a sinister way. This movie fell flat for me because frankly I didn't much care for any of the characters. I guess I felt a little sorry for Ruth Roman, the wife who wanted children and her husband (Joseph Cotten) wouldn't 'give' her any... but Joseph Cotten just isn't the kind of person you can generate much warmth for. He's about as appealing as a first-aid cabinet. I like Van Johnson - usually - but his character here is a jerk even when he's sober. While his love and concern for his family makes him seem a little more human, I just couldn't empathize with him. He and Joseph Cotten, brothers in the story, never seemed very brotherly to me and between them it's hard to say which one I cared less about.

What happened to the horses when they crossed the river? I guess they were both just washed away and nobody cared? I didn't like that. They were Cotten's horses; the least he could have done was ask 'are they all right' and look pained when he found out what happened, but not even a mention.

If you want to watch a movie that shows some dysfunctional family life in the middle 50's including people battling the bottle and other demons, I would suggest the real gem 'No Down Payment'. I think it's ten times the movie that this one is. For me, this one is a yawn. If I hadn't been exercising during the time it was on it would have been a total waste of my time. I'll give it five stars because it's not BAD bad, but it's just not that good either. It's just a so-what movie.