That Way with Women

This light-hearted, lightweight comedy is also a romance, since the story revolves around the (far-fetched) falling in love of two main characters.

But the film's significance orbits Sydney Greenstreet's portrayal of J.P. Alden, an automobile magnate who has moved to sunny Pasadena and now follows the orders of his doctor, his wife and his daughter--who are concerned for his health. He is cantankerous and bored. He longs for the old days, when he could eat whatever he preferred and he could work on cars.

After a series of coincidences and Alden's assumption of a false identity, he finds a way to assuage his cravings. Soon he is smiling again and ditching the pharmaceuticals. There's a solid message here for those who lose sight of their heart's desires.

It's nice to see Greenstreet in a comedy. And there are some notable appearances by recognizable character actors, notably Ian Wolfe as L. B. Crandall, Alden's personal attorney.

The mating dance between boy and girl is fairly routine (no surprises), but the real joy of this film is watching Sydney's character blossom and learn to self-actualize again.

The avuncular Sydney Greenstreet dominates this film as his sinister image is turned upside down in The Way With Women. Greenstreet plays an automobile tycoon who like Henry Ford came from humble beginnings and is Ford like wealthy now without the Fordian idiosyncrasies.

Bored with retirement Greenstreet on impulse buys a half interest in a gas station with war veteran Dane Clark incognito and the two start to build a business. Then they have to fight off a nasty protection racket with Clark and Greenstreet in jail where no one believes he's the wealthy tycoon he says he is. Henry Ford never had problems like this.

The fact that Greenstreet is incognito allows for a romance to develop between his daughter and Clark who really doesn't hit it off with her. The daughter is played by Martha Vickers known for two things, playing Lauren Bacall's psychotic sister in The Big Sleep and being one of Mickey Rooney's wives.

Although Clark and Vickers are attractive the film really belongs to Greenstreet and it is nice to see him not being the mastermind behind some sinister plot or hanging around the fringes of polite society. The man had a real gift for comedy that was not utilized all that often, the only other film I can think of with a funny Greenstreet is Christmas In Connecticut.

Not the best of films, but entertaining and a must for fans of Greenstreet. To see the funny side of Caspar Guttman by all means see The Way With Women.

This post-war remake of the George Arliss comedy, THE MILLIONAIRE, tries to do a little too much with a little too by-the-numbers story and, as a result, doesn't give the audience much in the way of laughs. To the basic plot of Greenstreet being a retired magnate who buys a garage in partnership with Dane Clark in order to have something to do, is added daughter Martha Vickers' boyfriend, a hood running a protection racket. This gives Miss Vickers more to do than wait for her scenes with Greenstreet and Clark. However, while they increase the screen time, and makes the plot a bit more interesting -- well, who needs much of a plot in a well-performed comedy?

And that's where this movie fails to shine. Greenstreet is fine in his role -- although I do prefer Arliss' lazy slyness in the role -- but neither Clark nor Vickers seem to have anything in the way of comedy chops. Only Alan Hale manages any laughs in his brief scenes. A waste of time.

Dane Clark's hair remains a distraction; that any leading man should look like a cheap $5.00 party wig was provided as part of costuming/makeup shall forever remain a mystery. Whenever Dane appeared on screen it would appear a pompadour was glued about his head. Of the many romance comedies on TCM from the 1930s and 40s, this singular distraction of a leading man is comical in its own right.

James P. Alden (Sydney Greenstreet) is a frustrated auto tycoon. He has been forced to retire by his family and his doctor. They moved to an estate in California from his Detroit factory. His daughter Marcia (Martha Vickers) is throwing a society party. Greg Wilson (Dane Clark) is a working man attending the party and won't stop complaining about the social ills of the rich which annoys Marcia to no end. She is pursued by the dashing Carter Andrews (Craig Stevens). Mr. Alden decides to buy a gas station in secret just to get back to work. It turns out to be only half of a gas station as he becomes a partner with Greg Wilson. Greg reveals his hatred of the Aldens and Mr. Alden quickly lies about his identity.

It's a fun comedy which surprised me a little. I like the sitcom misunderstandings and I love Greenstreet in the role. The two younger leads could be better but they are functional enough. They could improve if they have more time together. Even the short manufactured time at the ball game is enough for them to build chemistry. It's a fun comedy and I actual laughed during the fight. I love the bit where she calls out the guys' names. This seems to be another version based on the same Saturday Evening Post story. I wouldn't mind another one for the modern times.