L'amour n'est pas un jeu

For the only time in his career, director John Huston does a film with the main protagonists being women, in this case two of Warner Brothers biggest stars. Bette Davis and Olivia DeHavilland play a couple of sisters named Timberlake, one good and one bad. I'll leave it to the veteran movie fans to tell who was who.

Although quite frankly both these women could have pulled off each other's roles in In This Our Life. They certainly proved over the course of their careers that they had the acting chops. The property seemed a natural for them as they play women of southern origin.

Olivia's good sister is not quite as Pollyannish as her Melanie Hamilton from Gone With The Wind. But almost to the very end she allows Bette and her whims and desires to run roughshod over her life.

The film does revolve around Bette and her character is an exponential version of Julie Marsden from Jezebel. She's a selfish willful flirt who thinks absolutely of nothing except herself and causes havoc to all around here.

As the story opens Bette is keeping company with lawyer George Brent and Olivia is getting married to young doctor Dennis Morgan. On an impulsive whim and maybe to prove she can do it, Bette takes Morgan away from Olivia and they run off and get married. But Bette doesn't want the honeymoon to end and poor Morgan can't keep up with her partying. Realizing what he did he kills himself.

But that's far from the end of things. Davis who loves to speed her car, causes a hit and run accident that kills a young girl and badly injures her mother. She casts blame on a young black kid Ernest Anderson who is working and clerking in George Brent's office and is the son of Timberlake maid Hattie McDaniel.

The story is set in Virginia, not the deep South, but deep enough so that despite Anderson's denials, the law will just take white woman Davis's word as a matter of course. If it were Alabama, probably Anderson would have been lynched given those times. She knows this and for a while exploits the racism in her society.

Ernest Anderson's role was an incredible milestone for its times, showing a black young man who aspired to a professional life. In This Our Life is quite the indictment of Southern society of the time.

Another role that got acclaim for a different reason was Charles Coburn as the uncle whose 'affection' for Davis can't be mistaken for anything else, but incestuous desire. He's the main employer in the town and pretty much makes the law around there. Davis's last scene with Coburn is one of the best in the film and reveals everything about both of these disreputable people.

John Huston even got his father Walter to play an unbilled small bit as a bartender. The bartender it turns out is the key to getting at the truth for the police authorities.

In This Our Life is one of Bette Davis's meatiest roles. Huston is a good enough director though to not let her pyrotechnics blot out the rest of the cast. For fans of Bette this one is a must.

The family patriarch (Frank Craven), who has long since lost control of the business he himself started, and winds up only being an employee at, raises two distinctly different daughters. One (played by Bette Davis) is corrupted by her own personality defects and the attentions of her uncle (Charles Coburn), who has plenty of ability in business (it is revealed that he swooped in and took over the business that Craven started at an opportune time), but has a childless and cold marriage and presumably for that reason, showers money, gifts, and attention on his niece, foolishly believing he can buy her love and his happiness. This turns out to be probably Stanley's (Bette Davis) most formative relationship. Why De Havilland's Roy is so different we can only assume was because she came more under the influence of her father (Craven). That involved background story is actually more interesting than the story that is presented in the foreground, of Davis and sister Olivia De Havilland and their relationships with George Brent and Dennis Morgan. Nonetheless, Davis' relationship with Uncle William (Coburn) reaches a climactic point that ties in beautifully with the climax of the film.

Wonderful performances by all concerned. And one of the very few films from the 40's that shows a black man who is actually not lazy or stupid--but just a man! Very interesting plot also. I would recommend!!

"In This Our Life" dared to point out some issues not discussed by the Hollywood of the 40s. It shows a great director, John Huston, working at the top of his craft on the interesting adaptation by Howard Koch.

Stanley, the girl at the center of the story has it all. She is the favorite niece of the man who was responsible for ruining her father, a gentle soul beaten by the Great Depression. Stanley is a spoiled woman who couldn't care less who she hurt, let alone that is her own sister the one that will suffer because of her actions.

On the other hand, Roy, the good sister, is all kindness; she is just the opposite of Stanley. When Stanley decides she wants Peter, Roy's husband, she doesn't hesitate one second. She takes him and runs away to a life that proves not to be all what she imagined it would be.

Life intervenes in Stanley's life in tragic ways. First with Peter, the man he shouldn't have taken away from her sister, and then when trying to get back with Craig, she causes the death of a young girl when driving under the influence. This would have been a sobering experience for anyone, but Stanley is beyond repentance. Stanley, is a coward who will do anything to get away with murder.

Stanley was a role tailor made for Bette Davis. Her take on this impudent girl is perfect. Ms. Davis shows how good she is in small details that convey her understanding of her character. Ms. Davis reflects all the emotions Stanley is going through with her expressive eyes. One look at her and we know what this woman is capable of.

Olivia de Havilland makes an impression by playing the good sister, Roy. Ms. de Havilland is an actress that always played convincingly in everything she did, as is the case here. Her inner strength is her best asset. Roy is loyal to the point of sacrificing her own happiness and lets her sister take what she loves most.

The strong cast behind the principals is equally excellent. Dennis Morgan is Peter, the man blinded by Stanley. He will leave his adoring wife for a woman he ends up detesting. George Brent, is the kind Craig, the man jilted by Stanley who finally finds love again with Roy. Charles Coburn plays Uncle William with his usual panache. Frank Craven is Asa, the man cheated out of his fortune. Ernest Anderson makes an impression as Parry, the young black man with ambitions to improve himself. Hattie McDaniel only has a couple of key scenes where she shines. Billie Burke and Lee Patrick are seen in minor roles.

The musical score by Alfred Newman enhances the film. Ultimately it's John Huston who shows a clear understanding for the material and who gets excellent performances out of everyone.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon this film airing early one morning on TCM. Bette Davis is quite wonderful, and contrary to what some posters have stated, she actually underplays what could have been an hilarious, scenery-chewing role. DeHavilland is, likewise, outstanding as the initially timid individual, who must cope with the devastating actions of her selfish sister.

Supporting performances are directed well by Houston, with young Ernest Anderson standing out as the wrongly accused black man. It is disappointing that the remainder of his career consisted mainly of parts such as waiters, doormen, porters, etc.

Max Steiner's score is a bit overpowering at times, but he was at the top of his game in the early 40s. The Warner back lot works effectively as Virginia, and the absence of fake/forced Southern accents actually lends credibility to the performances.

As others have stated, I will now seek out the original source material, especially after having learned of its honors. I am curious as to the source of a previous claim that the film was a critical and financial bomb on release.