Commentaires des utilisateurs

The 1947 mystery-thriller,"The Two Mrs.Carrolls"is considered by many critics to be a tepid,unrealistic film and one of Humphrey Bogart's lesser works. This couldn't be more false. The film contains brilliant performances by Bogart and Barbara Stanwyck,a great deal of eerie suspense,and delicious bits of English humor. The plot of the film is similar to that of Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" and "Suspicion",but has a uniqueness all it's own. It tells the story of Geoffrey Carroll(Bogart),a struggling artist who marries a wealthy woman,Sally(Stanwyck), after his supposed invalid wife dies. Life is normal for them,until Sally begins to feel ill and restless quite often.A doctor says she's suffering from nothing more than a nerve condition,and she believes that's all it is. She is, unfortunately, in for a big surprise.She learns from Geoffrey's precocious,young daughter,Bea(Ann Carter),some things about his previous wife.For starters,she was not an invalid and only got sick the last few weeks of her life.Geoffrey gave her milk at night to make her feel relaxed.This is exactly what he does for Sally.She also learns that a painting of his former wife,called "The Angel of Death",was done while she was sick. Hearing this,Sally comes to the realization that she is Geoffrey's next victim of a well-planned crime.Stanwyck has never been better as a panic-stricken wife,trying to survive her husband's evil doings.Bogart gives a highly underrated performance as a psychopath,who gets brutal when his murder plot doesn't go according to plan.His presence on screen is often frightening.The ending is wonderfully witty and comical.While not in the same league as "The Maltese Falcon"or "Key Largo",this is still a highly entertaining Bogart film,that will not disappoint. I give it a strong 8 1/2 out of 10.

This noir thriller has two of the biggest names in Hollywood in the 1940s and they are paired here in an interesting, if not too exciting, film. Humphrey Bogart, for all of the heroic roles during this stage of his career, is cast against type, and Barbara Stanwyck, always the femme fatale, is now a damsel in distress as matters spiral beyond her control as grave danger closes in on her. The role-reversals of the stars works well and the byplay between them is good. They are supported by Alexis Smith, quite stunning as the other woman who comes along to complicate matters for artist Bogart, who is, of course, hopelessly smitten with her. The remaining cast is good, as is Franz Waxman's somber music accompaniment. The camera work is also first-rate.

This is a highly suspenseful, almost Hitchcockian tale, with excellent performances from the stars. Barbara Stanwyck was always excellent in this kind of role; she's better here than in "Sorry, Wrong Number". And Bogart seems truly menacing as the psychotic artist. Also noteworthy is the performance of Ann Carter as Bogart's young daughter. She was a child actress with a very mature and sophisticated quality about her, in fact she reminded me very much of Patty McCormack, who would play the evil Rhoda in "The Bad Seed" several years later. There's never a dull moment in this 99 minute thriller.

First, this film is not Bogart's worst, by any means. If you don't believe me, go watch "Knock on Any Door". However, I will accept that Bogart is mis-cast as a passionate and successful painter. Too many other iconic roles for me to buy this one. But, he gives it the old college try, and it would have been OK, if you'd never seen him before. Barbara Stanwyck was beautiful and talented, and that showed here. Alexis Smith did steal the show in the scenes in which she appeared. And as far as Ann Carter as the daughter, well, I've known a lot of precocious children, in fact was one, and I do not see the fault in her role (The criticism was generally based on the writing, rather than her acting) Just because you never happen to see the character act childish, doesn't mean that she never did. Anyway this is a pretty good "old" movie, not classic, but entertaining.

This is a rather enjoyable movie that is nothing too impressive but is a good watch nevertheless.

The movie begins slow and dull because it's mostly just so formulaic. From the beginning on it isn't clear which approach the movie picks and what the movie is all about. Really no thriller elements in the first halve, just some formulaic drama and romance. Only halve way through the movie the movie starts to become interesting when the thriller elements of the movie start to appear in to the story. The movie is more thriller than it's film-noir really, which might be a surprising thing, considering the time the year was made in. So yes, in a way the movie is quite original, despite being formulaic. It has a typical thriller build up that builds up that leads to the unavoidable ending. The movie has some good genre moments, which mostly works out due to the fine cast and suitable atmosphere of the movie.

How often do we get to see Humphrey Bogart in the role of a psycho really? That is quite awesome! The supporting cast is also one to die for. Barbara Stanwyck was one of THE leading ladies at the time and Alexis Smith was also quite popular. Nigel Bruce, who everyone knows as THE Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes movies starring Basil Rathbone, also plays a quite amusing small role in the movie.

Despite its genre clichés, this is still a rather well made movie. It's effectively directed and the story flows well, despite being quite silly at times. It's an above average movie due to how professionally it's made and how well the actors handle the script and its more silly (clichés) and unbelievable moments.

Perfectly watchable movie, especially for the Bogart fans, who want to see him in a role that is different.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Whoever claimed "The Two Mrs Carrolls" was Bogie at his worst in terms of movie making is nuts; Bogie's worst film is either "Swing Your Lady" or "The Return of Doctor X." Them films were horrid and I can barely sit through them.. I found "Carrolls" quite interesting and somewhat freaky...

I do admit, as far as explaining Bogie's character (Geofrey Carroll) with being mentally ill, the story is vague there... Their really is no reason or explanation as to why he tires of his wife / wives and decides to kill them off one by one after painting a morbid portrait of them....

Anyway, regardless of what critics think of this film effort from 1947, I think Bogie, Stanwyck, Alexis Smith and Nigel Bruce made a good cast and crew... Even the young Ann Carter was good as Bogie's daughter 'Beatrice' in the movie....

I have noticed that the excellent network TCM rarely ever shows this picture...... I myself had to wait for over a year to finally record and obtain it for my collection here recently.... I rate the film a 7 out of a possible 10 points...... I never hand out 10s, either..... 9 is usually my top digit number given..... Cheerio....

MR.BILL Raleigh

I love this film, and find any reviews describing the performances or film in general as disappointing to be odd or misinformed. First, the story line is compelling and instructive-playing out the origins, development, and climatic conclusions of domestic abuse. Classically, the man in this case is more verbally or psychically abusive than physically so, at first, but dangerous nonetheless. In fact, the Bogart character as troubled artist plans the deaths of his wives out of a twisted belief he must do away with women who cease to fuel his artistic muse. The anticipated transformation from supposedly loving husband and father to cold-blooded killer features all the characteristics of a psychopath whose pathology is excused by "artistic temperament." That alone is an interesting deviation from the typical domestic abuser portrayal as a obnoxious drunk in an undershirt.

The abuser is also aided by an incompetent doctor more interested in drinking good whiskey than determining the cause of his patient's poor health. And he's so dense he never makes the connection between the similarities between the first wife's condition and why all of a sudden wife number two is now sick.

Also, this is a fine point, but there has never been a film with Isobel Elsom in it that I haven't liked, and she does not disappoint here. Playing the upper crust mother of the "other woman," Elsom makes her character nonetheless relatable and fun to watch.

And then there are the performances of the three main players...Stanwyk is never in a bad movie-her performance alone carries any film at through her presence into the "good" territory. Alexis Smith won me over as Stanwyk"s antagonist. Her cold, cruel cunning is pitch perfect, and yet she's not exactly hatable, either. And Bogart is credible to me as a troubled artist. Not all painters need fill up the screen as if they were Vincent Van Gogh. And little Ann Carter's performance as a reasonable, rational child gives us hope she can survive her father's violent history and go on with her life.

Also, kudos to the finely etched cineamatography and beautiful Franz Waxman score. In short, an excellent one hour and 40 minutes spent.

The Two Mrs. Carrolls is directed by Peter Godfrey and adapted to the screen by Thomas Job from the Martin Vale play. It stars Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, Alexis Smith, Nigel Bruce, Ann Carter and Patrick O'Moore. Music is by Franz Waxman and cinematography by Peverell Marley.

Completed in 1945 but not released till 1947, The Two Mrs. Carrolls is one of those films that has an abundance of stories to match the abundance of divisive reviews. Various biographers and cinema writers tell a different story about stuff like what Bogart and Stanwyck thought of the movie, why they did it and so on. It's now hard to know exactly what the truth is anymore! So what about the film on its own terms then?

Undeniably the critics of the time were right to point out the similarity of The Two Mrs. Carrolls to such fine movies of the time like Gaslight, Suspicion and Rebecca, in fact the delayed release is thought to be because of Gaslight's success in 1944, while there's even a slice of Dorian Gray about it as well. Having these massively popular films as benchmarks has kind of crippled "Carrolls" reputation, because quite frankly it's not close to being in the same league. However, if one can judge it on its own terms, this is very good Gothic thriller entertainment.

Plot is essentially Sally Morton Carroll (Stanwyck) as a newly wedded wife who comes to realise her husband, Geoffrey (Bogart), is not the charming loving man she thought he was. He's the tortured artist type, who needs his muse to be kinked to produce his best work, thus the thriller conventions do proceed as Sally unearths dark truths and becomes a woman in peril. Various colourful characters are added to the mix; Smith's head turning sex bomb, Bruce's alcoholic doctor, Moore's lovelorn ex boyfriend and Carter's sprightly young daughter.

The Carroll house is filled with many Gothic textures, marking it out as place ripe for dark deeds and the unfurling of sinister secrets. Godfrey, though guilty of letting the pace sag all too often, does insert some great mood accentuating scenes. Episodes with the fearsome paintings strike a chilly chord, a raging storm unloading as the curtains billow has the requisite haunting feel, and Geoffrey finally going over the edge produces a superb crash – bang – wallop scene. Marley's photography is suitably shadowy via lighting techniques, and Waxman provides a typically genre compliant musical score.

On the acting front there's not a great deal to write home about, Stanwyck isn't stretched beyond being just professional, and as committed as Bogart is, he's an odd choice for this type of role. Bruce is typecast as another Dr. Watson character, while Smith is badly underused. The latter a shame as she leaves a favourable mark slinking about like a leopard, in fact it's probably no coincidence that she shows up late in the film wearing a leopard skin scarf! All told it's a little draggy in places and often shows its stage origins, but when it hits Gothic stride it's worthy of viewing investment. And yes, even if Bogart doing Bluebeard isn't the right fit. 7/10

Vacationing in rainy Scotland, marriage-minded Barbara Stanwyck (as Sally Morton) enjoys her passionate two-week affair with painter Humphrey Bogart (as Geoffrey Carroll). When she accidentally discovers Mr. Bogart is a married man, Ms. Stanwyck is beside herself. Bogart claims his wife is an invalid, but Stanwyck ends the relationship. Back in London, Bogart sends cute blonde daughter Ann Carter (as Beatrice "Bea" Carroll) away to school and presides over his wife's untimely expiration...

Two years later, the widower Bogart has married Stanwyck. She is happy. But, Bogart is grumpy because he has trouble painting. His mood improves when beautiful Alexis Smith (as Cecily Latham) enters the picture. Though Stanwyck and Bogart proved capable in distressed damsel and disturbed psycho roles, they seem to smart for the roles herein. Helping most are precocious young Carter (who is also much to intelligent for the script) and Nigel Bruce as an inept doctor with a fondness for alcohol.

******* The Two Mrs. Carrolls (3/4/47) Peter Godfrey ~ Barbara Stanwyck, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Carter, Alexis Smith

We've been here before recently, with a story that's repeatingly, as a husband takes care, his spouse unaware, that she's about to be deceasingly; and the cycle continues at pace, as another's queued up to replace, as they follow a cycle, to give up all their vitals, in a box they will soon be encased.

It's not the best film that Humphry ever made, and it's clear that he struggles a bit when the character deviates from being Rick-like, although Barbara Stanwyck does catch the eye as the innocent Sally Morton Carroll, who's lined up to follow in the footsteps of the first Mrs Carroll, and also the conflicting Kathryn Mason. The irksome child Bea Carroll does nothing to salvage things while stereotypical Brits of the time leave you wondering why!

This is one of my favorite bad movies, so bad it's good. A great cast seems to have pulled this baby together in about two days and it's a scream. All of the stars must have owed Warners a film or succumbed to blackmail. It's too bad because it's actually a very neat suspense story starring Humphrey Bogart - without giving anything away, let's just say when he gets a headache, he touches his hand to his head. That's how you know he has a headache. About as organic as a hothouse tomato. Totally worth seeing but not anyone's best work. Watch for the continuity goof with the milk. I can't agree with another poster - I thought Alexis Smith was gorgeous.

Bogart is not cut as a screen lover and there's little chemistry between him and Stanwyck. Nevertheless the bottom line is that it's a good film noir.

Leonard Maltin didn't like this film and I've got to admit it certainly isn't one of Bogart's more acclaimed movies. I agree that the plot is kind of silly, but I actually enjoyed the film despite this and liked that the film was willing to take risks. Therefore, I think I enjoyed it a little more than Maltin, but not much.

Bogart definitely plays against type-casting, as he's a crazy husband who murders his wife in order to wed another! Yes, I know this sounds a lot like a cheesy soap opera or an episode of Jerry Springer. BUT, despite this it is engaging. It actually seemed believable at times thanks to interesting writing. However, there are a few dumb moments that prevent this film from being better. In particular, when Barbara Stanwyck is about to be killed, she just stands there like an idiot--even though SHE is the one with the gun. And, like a cliché, he hits her and takes it away. Any character that dumb deserves to be killed. If she had just plugged him, the film would have earned at least a 7!

Bogart was someone you want in charge as in Sahara and countless roles where he is the hero. Then there is the guy gone off the rails as in numerous Warners mob movies through his many oddball and psychotic roles later. Then there is here the younger Babs who finds herself in a gothic situation. Babs has a revolver, in a good way, taking the edge off Phyllis from Double Indemnity. As a wife killer Bogie goes well beyond Milland to the outer realms of Karloff and Lugosi. The reduction of Stanwyck to fending off a monster was not such a step back here where her glamour, bounce and acting chops make this memorable.

Sometimes a man can't stay settled with the same woman. Maybe he grows tired of the woman he's got, or maybe another comes along and blows his socks off. It happens. But then what does he do? Does he drop the old model for the new model? Does he fight back his urges and stay faithful? Or does he try to have both at the same time? Geoffrey Carroll (Humphrey Bogart) did a little of this and that.

When Geoffrey met Sally he was already married, but he kept that conveniently hidden. When Sally found out about his wife she was rightly upset and wanted to break it off, but Geoffrey explained to her that the marriage was slipping away due to his wife's health and the marriage was more or less done.

Not long after that exchange we see that Sally Martin (Barbara Stanwyck) was now Sally Carroll. How? Apparently, the first Mrs. Carroll died which freed Geoffrey up to marry his new sweetheart.

Everything was "right as rain" until a new woman entered the picture. Cecily Latham (Alexis Smith) was pursuing Geoffrey hard and she would not be denied. Geoffrey eventually acquiesced and again he was having to juggle two women. How would things shake out this time?

This was only my third Bogart movie and the second time I've seen him as the bad guy. The first movie he was an open hood, whereas this time around he was a sly snake trying to keep up the appearance of being upright and honest. This was one of those movies where both the protagonist and the antagonist were snooping around trying not to reveal too much to the other party--the antagonist because he had illegal aims and the protagonist because she wanted to keep her knowledge a secret. It was some good cat and mouse.

The Two Mrs. Carrolls was one of a handful of motion pictures done by Warner Brothers which were released to the Armed Forces overseas first and then to the general public. Saratoga Trunk was another. As if our fighting men didn't have enough to contend with.

I disagree and even more importantly Humphrey Bogart disagrees with another reviewer who said this was Bogart's worst film. Bogart reserved that honor for Swing Your Lady. But you would think that in a once only teaming with him and Barbara Stanwyck they would have given him a better property. For instance I could easily see Stanwyck playing Mary Astor's part in The Maltese Falcon. But the Brothers Warner thought otherwise.

By the way either before or after Stanwyck did a film at Warners, Christmas in Connecticut an infinitely better film.

Bogart here is a psychopathic painter whose modus operandi is woo 'em, wed 'em, paint 'em and kill 'em. He's done that with one wife and Stanwyck is wife two. He's now got his eye on Alexis Smith and Stanwyck is being slowly poisoned.

What bothered me most about this is that there seems no reasons for Bogart's psychosis. Hopefully someone who might have seen the original play by Martin Vale could inform us if that was something left out in the movie.

If not, then it's a bad movie taken from a bad play.