La seconda signora Carroll

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

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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

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.

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.