Babbitt

This version of BABBIT has long had the reputation of being a soft adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' often savage novel, but, while not perfect, it does manage to hold to its core. It has a fine cast, headed by Guy Kibbee, who plays his usual amiable, corrupt dolt -- look at his turn as the governor in Capra's MISTER SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. Here, playing a genially corrupt businessman with a roving eye and a taste for bootleg booze, he is perfect, led by other business types like Alan Hale, Berton Churchill and Minor Watson into a typical piece of graft, blackmail and depression. The novel is much better, but this is a good, if mainstream version.

As a note, Lewis' Zenith was modeled on Minneapolis, which was nicknamed 'The Zenith City' in the beginning of the 20th century. Lewis, who grew up in Minnesota and developed a hatred for the fatuousness of middle class life in the era made this and ELMER GANTRY, his take on the corruption of revivalism -- and which was made into a much tougher and better film in 1960 -- his deservedly best known works.

George F. Babbitt (Guy Kibbee) is the developer of Zenith, a new developing town. With his wife Myra (Aline MacMahon), they have two grown children. He is trying hard to make his realty business a success and hiding a looming scandal which he can't remember.

I don't necessarily like Babbitt but I do like the prank. I figured that it was a scam but couldn't guess where it was going for a long while. After that reveal, the movie loses its steam. It needs a reason for being. At some point, I realized that I need to see him doing some real work. He's a lot of talk and undeserved arrogance to his family. It's a flawed character getting into trouble of his own making. It's based on a novel and I do wonder if there could be a better adaptation.

Considerably changed from the novel, Babbitt diverges most from it in the personae of its two leads. George F. Babbitt is a normal semi-educated, average-looking philistine businessman, someone who would have accurately been represented by another of the cast, Alan Hale. Instead, he is portrayed by Guy Kibbee, who has Fat Fool written all over him. Sinclair Lewis wanted his readers to identify Babbitt as a member of their own families, perhaps even themselves, but no one would identify with Kibbee, a blustering, hapless figure of fun.

At the other extreme, George's wife, Myra, is the beautiful and obviously intelligent Aline MacMahon. The wife ought to be a frumpy dimwit who idolises George, who is indeed her superior. But this Myra, as she herself says, regards George as a little boy, protects him, and saves him, most dramatically (in a way that makes no sense at all) from destroying his reputation and losing their money.

However, having said that, the film is full of funny lines and tart observations on the childishness of men and the maturity of women, and there is plenty of social texture to enjoy, as well as the inimitable Hattie McDaniel, as the Babbitts' maid, who sees it as her duty to pep up their dinnertime with colourful bulletins from the other side of the tracks.

You know when a novel really hits the consciousness of the public when its very name becomes a noun. To be a Babbitt is to be your outstanding middle class citizen with avarice is your main trait and you must by all means maintain a veneer of respectability.

I'm sure that Guy Kibbee could have played the role had Warner Brothers written the film just as the novel was written by Sinclair Lewis. But seeing when it came out it was at the dawn of the Code. The Babbitt we see here is a typical Guy Kibbee part, a fatuous, but essentially good hearted soul. Kibbee is married to Aline McMahon and has two children (there were three in the Lewis novel)played by Glenn Boles and Maxine Doyle.

Kibbee gets himself in a pair of jackpots. First he gets involved with Claire Dodd who was in a typical Claire Dodd role as the other woman. It's all quite innocent, but she's going to make trouble. At the same time Kibbee who is a real estate salesman gets involved with a pair of schemers looking to benefit from some inside information one of them is a city commissioner (Russell Hicks) and the other a millionaire whose lifestyle Babbitt craves and is played by Walter Walker. The two potential scandals intertwine.

Since is a codified version of Babbitt the ending is a soft landing for Kibbee. How he does it you'll have to watch the film for, but let's say he's mighty glad he's married to Aline McMahon who gives the best performance in the film.

There is a silent version of Babbitt put out by Warner Brothers as well. It might be closer to what Sinclair Lewis was writing about. As entertainment this version isn't bad though.

Guy Kibbee stars as the title character, George Babbitt. He's what you might call a big fish in a small pond--a business man who is quite successful by small-town standards. But, you might also call a boob! Despite being a success, he is a bit clueless from time to time and this film is about clueless George got himself into trouble and how his patient wife (Alaine MacMahon) tries to extricate him. Exactly how all this happens you can see for yourself.

"Babbitt" is based on a Sinclair Lewis novel and it's a metaphor for the acquisitive middle class--folks whose value of money blinds them to the important values in life. However, much of the story has been changed-- particular the ending and the wise intervention of Mrs. Babbitt to extricate him from a bad business deal that apparently isn't even in the original story.

Despite being a best-selling book, Warner Brothers gives "Babbitt" a B- movie treatment. It has a lot of style and polish like a Warner film but has lower-level actors for the film. Considering the story, having Kibbee and MacMahon in the leads wasn't a bad thing--and both were excellent in this film. Overall, a light and entertaining film with some covert criticisms for modern life. Worth seeing.