alfrneuman

This movie had a powerful impact with young audiences when it first came out. I've watched it a few times and thought it was above average for a teen flick. James Dean is good within a narrow acting range (angst, whining, mumbling and crying). Fortunately most of the Rebel script was within this range making this a successful movie. I didn't think Natalie Wood's performance deserved an Academy Award nomination but it showed she could successfully transition to adult roles. Rebel could have been netter or worse. I give it a 6..

Thoroughly enjoyable pre-code gem exploring an all too common situation where a naïve young woman marries a smooth talking scoundrel only to be abandoned when he gets her pregnant. Ruth Chatterton easily makes the transition from innocent newlywed to a woman who becomes too familiar with school of hard knocks. So it's refreshing when George Brent comes into her life with a dose of optimism she sorely needs.

Lilly Turner also explores loyalty and sacrifice. Frank McHugh is there for Chatterton when she needs him most and she repays his kindness staying with him at the end after he breaks his back. By doing so she turns down a chance to start life over with the man of her dreams (Brent) who responds by turning down the job of his dreams to stay with her.

Good acting, solid directing with some nice twists in the plot to keep things interesting. I'd rather watch movies like Lilly Turner than escapist 1930s drivel showing gold-diggers manipulating dumb horny businessmen. This movie touched on a the worst and best in human nature. With substantial editing this could be a good family movie but it's message is more powerful in the original form.

To protect himself, a crooked judge frames an innocent woman for prostitution, tries to send her husband out of the country and takes away their only child. You start to wonder how evil can this film get. It's surprising Walter Houston did not get an Academy Award nomination for his performance as the corrupt magistrate but apparently MGM did not push for it.

Night Court was an excellent movie until the last 10 minutes which seemed as though it had a different script writer tying the loose ends together. And that's too bad because this could have been a great film. Phillips Holmes and Anita Page are solid as the victimized couple. Ms Page could act and was certainly more attractive than many of MGM's leading ladies but never achieved full blown star status because she refused to ..ahem.. cooperate with the studio execs. Instead they ruined her career. Golden Age Hollywood at it's worst!

Night Court is worth watching and keeps the viewer interested. I rate it a 7.