L'extravagant Mr Cory

Too bad Mister Cory isn't given a first name; he deserved one...especially when expertly portrayed by Mr. Tony Curtis.

About the time this film was done, in 1957, Curtis was gaining rapid momentum in what would become a memorable career. "Mister Cory" was bookcased by excellent mid/latter Fifties' Curtis films such as "Trapeeze", "The Vikings", "The Defiant Ones", "The Sweet Smell of Success", "Kings Go Forth" and "Operation Petticoat." Each of these Curtis efforts received critical acclaim...particularly "The Defiant Ones," for which he won an Oscar nomination, and "Sweet Smell of Success", for which he should have been nominated.

"Mister Cory" rarely is listed among Curtis' major early efforts. It should be. It is a real "sleeper." The actor, and those around him here, lift the film multiple steps above its melodramatic flavor, into the realm of something quite riveting.

Curtis was 32 when "Mister Cory" was done, but his boyish good-looks and trim physique make him quite believeable as the story's young man just out of the Navy, seeking his future. However, if anyone believes Curtis became successful on the screen just for those elements need only to watch performances as this to learn otherwise.

Cory is a complex character study, with volatile undercurrents beneath his attractive, agreeable surface. Curtis expertly handles the various nuances of the role. He makes the viewer believe he IS the tough kid just out of Chicago, seeking to escape his seamy roots. First, in the verdant Wisconsin resort locale, and later as a manager/host for a glittering Lake Shore Drive gambling house catering to the wealthy and snobbish.

In reality, Curtis was a tough kid seeking to escape his Bronx roots. He certainly could identify with Cory. But merely identifying with a character isn't sufficient for a believeable screen performance. Curtis demonstrates that he brought much more to the table than attractiveness and a pleasing personality. "Mister Cory" is only one such example.

Joining Curtis in "Mister Cory" are a wealth of outstanding supporting people. Twenty-two year old Kathryn Grant, less an a year from marrying Bing Crosby, is the saucy, outdoorsy, girl-next-door Jen Vollard who makes little doubt of her interest in Cory. In the role, Grant is adorable. She favored marriage over a screen career, a choice unfortunate for viewers.

Martha Hyer likewise is effective as the lacquered, polished Abigail Vollard, Jen's sister. Like most males who come into contact with her, Cory is taken. Unlike others, he is not overwhelmed. Ultimately, he learns that her smooth veneer merely whitewashes over unattractive beneath-the-surface elements.

Veteran character actor Charles Bickford is excellent as the stolid Jeremiah Caldwell, Cory's friend/mentor. Russ Morgan also turned in a fine performance as Ruby Matrobe, the suggestively shady force behind the gambling house.

But, with Curtis and Grant, the film is stolen by British stage/screen veteran Henry Daniell.

As Mr. Earnshaw, Daniell initially is boss to Cory's busboy at the resort. Later, he is recruited by Cory to tend to customers' needs at Matrobe's establishment. It is Earnshaw's "air of snobbery" that is his most marketable quality to Cory. Daniell carries off the stuffy, Mr. Manners role with enjoyable aplomb. With an O Henry-like twist near the film's conclusion, Cory learns that stiff, protocol-spouting Earnshaw once was arrested...for bigamy.

The film's most thankless role is that of Abigail's long-time suiter, Alex Wyncott. He has spent much of his life eagerly, if a bit wearily, fending-off numerous would be-rivals for her. William Reynolds handles the role well, and deserves credit for undertaking it. Not only is Wyncott portrayed to be a rich man's apparently inept son, he verbally is accosted by Cory in witheringly demeaning fashion. Only near the the 92-minute film's conclusion is Wyncott finally allowed to demonstrate backbone: he shoots Cory in the arm. Curtis responds: "...I didn't think he had the guts."

Upon viewing "Mister Cory," those unfamiliar with the film might likewise reply, "Where has this been all this time?"

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Unfortunately the DVD I just purchased from Amazon does NOT have this film as it was made to be in CinemaScope. It is on standard screen and loses so much of the intention the Director, Blake Edwards made it to be.

As for Tony Curtis he is very good in his role and I am looking forward to viewing the other 9 dvds I purchased in the same box set however I will wait to see how many more are in their original format. With today's big screen TVs I cannot understand while a movie has to be ruined by not allowing us to se it in its original format.

While not one of the greatest of actors, Tony Curtis was always watchable and gave good performances (truly great actually in 'Some Like it Hot' and 'Sweet Smell of Success') in a fair share of good films. That 'Mister Cory' was directed by talented Blake Edwards, very early on in his career (his third film as director), and had a promising cast were also good reasons to see it.

It is sad that 'Mister Cory' isn't better known, for it really to me is a very good film and easily among Curtis' best early films and roles that sees a big growth as an actor. It is also a very good collaboration with Edwards. Of their collaborations together, the only one that underwhelmed was 'The Perfect Furlough' and that was hardly unwatchable. 'Mister Cory' really should be seen more and more accessibly available, it may not be extraordinary or among the best films ever made but it's entertaining and well made and crafted.

Can't really say much wrong actually. Would have liked more depth to William Reynolds' character Alex, written here rather thanklessly.

And maybe a darker colour palette may have worked slightly better in the photography and production values to match the sharpness and sometimes cynicism of the material.

That is not a knack really, because 'Mister Cory' does look great. The photography is full of style and elegance the CinemaScope gorgeous, and the settings/locations are like beautiful stars of their own. The music has energy and is really pleasant to listen to, not at odds with the film's tone.

'Mister Cory's' script is witty and sharp, with a sophistication and not heavy-handed use of cynicism. The story has a light heart as well as a darker edge that stops it from being glossy froth. Edwards' direction shows an ease, engagement with the material and a stylishness. The film works very well as a character study, with an interesting lead character.

A lead character played extremely well by Curtis, who brings a boyish charm, cocky arrogance, intensity, likeability and panache, the character is not purposefully a likeable one but one cannot hate him completely. Kathryn Grant and Martha Hyer are adorable and charming, while Charles Bickford and Henry Daniell give the standout supporting performances. William Reynolds excels with a character that could have been written better.

Overall, very well done and worthy of more credit. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Coming out as it did right before Tony Curtis's breakthrough role as a serious actor in Sweet Smell Of Success was this overlooked drama Mister Cory where Curtis plays a man on the make just like Sidney Falco in Sweet Smell Of Success. The only difference is that Mister Cory is redeemed somewhat in the final fadeout. It would not surprise me that Burt Lancaster who produced as well as starred in Sweet Smell Of Success cast Curtis after seeing this.

In the title role of Mister Cory, Curtis plays a young hustler on the make who gets a job as a busboy in a posh resort on the Lake Michigan shore. He's got both a talent for gambling and womanizing and starts romancing Lake Shore Drive princess Martha Hyer who has rich and weak William Reynolds eating out of her hand. For a context to put her relationship with Curtis in, Hyer was taking notes from Norma Shearer in A Free Soul. Her younger sister is Kathryn Crosby who really likes Curtis, but his sites are set higher on Hyer.

But it's his gambling prowess that comes to the attention of Charles Bickford who takes Curtis on as a protégé and he becomes a regular Cincinnati Kid. Later they go into partnership with Russ Morgan in a posh gambling club and all the plot elements congeal right there.

Russ Morgan is indeed Russ Morgan the famous swing band leader and I was surprised at the good performance he turned in. He did not pick up an instrument or baton and I was surprised what a good acting performance he turned in in a role that had nothing to do with music.

Henry Daniell is also in the cast as the head of the resort where Curtis gets his job and he plays the usual Daniell part and eventually has to fire Tony. When it comes to opening his club he hires Daniell to run the non-gambling part of it. Later on during the climax of the film we learn that the cold and haughty Daniell that we all know has a criminal record of his own.

I'm sorry that this film is not out in any format. A must for fans of Tony Curtis.

Sorry, but you are not going to get a standard review. The real star of this movie for me was Huntington Lake, which is high in the Sierras above Fresno California. As a sailor, Huntington is famous for it's consistently windy conditions that you can set your watch by. Every day at 10am, the lake is glassy calm. By 11am however, it is really blowing. Quite a bit of the movie uses the lake as a stand in for its presumed location in Wisconsin. I have sailed a lot of races on that lake and it is funny to observe that, in the background of each scene, you can clearly see that, even back in 1957, the wind is always absolutely cranking. Very amusing were the scenes which cut back and forth between the lake, where the wind is howling creating the usual Huntington Lake chop, and the boat in which they are sitting, which is clearly in a glassy calm swimming pool. It is actually not bad for a film shot in the 1950's. In a fun plot reversal, Tony hires the guy who was so hard on him as a bellboy, to work for him when he ends up with his own resort. But, for anybody who has ever raced on Huntington Lake, this movie is a must see!!!