Bacardi1

I love this movie, & can't even count how many times I've seen it.

Yes, yes, I understand all of the naysayers whining about stereotypes & political correctness (I also frankly wonder how many of them have spent any time in drag clubs. . . .), but the movie is still well-written & a true comedy classic.

Apart from the obvious leading team of Williams, Lane, & Azaria, I can't help but love Gene Hackman in his role, as I can never resist a high-caliber serious mostly-dramatic actor who's not afraid of a role that basically has him looking foolish.

This could have been a top-notch film noir classic if it wasn't for Ida Lupino's god-awful singing, made even more laughable by everyone in the film waxing rhapsodic over her re: how fabulous she was. Flat, off-key, talking thru most of it - you name it. Neither sexy nor torchy. Even the worst Grade D picture singers sound better. Can't help but feel that once again, another example of a star's ego ending up ruining what could have been a very nice little film.

Cornel Wilde does his usual shtick, which rarely changes film-to-film; but as usual, Richard Widmark shines in a role that he does best.

But all in all, a nice little film.

This COULD have been a nice tight - if poorly acted - little Grade B/C film noir piece if someone had had the brains not to devote a solid 20-30 minutes to Patty Hale, whose poetry/song/supposed-light-comedy stints brought me to the point of nausea. This entire film looks to be nothing more than a vehicle for her. How very very sad.

I also found it unexpectedly funny re: the wife having her baby, although she was slim as a green bean in all her immediate before birth shots. I can only guess that it may have had something to do with the censors at that time.

But still - nothing ruins this little flick more than little Patty Hale.