The Scoundrel's Wife

This is one of my all-time favorite films. I don't understand the negative reviews. I think it is an underrated gem and have tried for years to find a way to stream it after seeing it broadcast on TV several years ago. The depth of the characters and the intrinsic interest of the subject matter have never faded from my mind. The characters are the most fascinating part. The Butcher's wife is a standout, called into action for some bizarre and gruesome, but very important work in her husband's absence. The two main characters are complex and I think will rendered the scoundrels's wife, so-called, played by Tatum. O'Neal is reserved and subtle, but given her circumstances and accusations of her, she can hardly be a Pollyanna, which seems to be what some critics were wanting O'Neill to portray. And the doctor well he's just overwhelming a character with one secret after another revealed.

This film may only have viewing value to local people from South Louisiana as one of the other reviewer's has stated, but the story line is loosely based on historic events occurring before and during World War II. My mother, who was raised in Mathews Louisiana tells stories of how one of our distant relatives kicked barrels loaded up with Chinese illegals over the side of his boat because the authorities were after him. She also told us stories of how after a German U-boat had been sunk off of the coast of Louisiana, a ticket to the local picture show was found on one of the German's bodies that washed ashore. There were also loaves of French bread from Dufrene's Bakery in Golden Meadow, LA in the debris. Food and diesel were rationed to most people, but shrimp weren't bound by the rationing rules due to the shrimp's food value. Glen Petri tells his tale in a way to tie these stories together in a very entertaining way in my opinion.

Tatum O'Neal, attempting a movie-comeback, stars as a widowed mother of two in World War II Louisiana who's under a dark cloud after the locals suspect she may be a German sympathizer. Director Glen Pitre's sterling reputation with the critics precedes his work here; the filmmaker shows no distinguishing talent with story, narrative or actors. The men are mostly overwrought, young Lacey Chabert is totally out of the film's period, and O'Neal is kept too low-keyed and distant from us (and she looks wrung-out to boot). The movie's low-budget certainly doesn't help enrich the period flavor, and a good cast--including Julian Sands and an overacting Tim Curry as an alcoholic priest--is mostly forgettable (Curry does liven things up, though his comic mugging doesn't belong in a movie about U-boats and nefarious Louisiana fisherman). *1/2 from ****

In "Home Front", as the DVD was entitled, WWII German U-boats are sinking American ships off the coast of Louisiana and the little Cajun backwater town Cut Off, LA is getting the backlash. The film focuses on a woman (O'Neal) with a big secret, a doctor (Sands) with a medium sized secret, a priest with a little secret, and a USCG Ensign who is the wartime town cop and wants to know everybody's secret. Trying too hard to be all things to all people while lacking in focus, purpose, center of gravity, and character depth this mediocre little indie manages nominal drama - with O'Neal looking in need of some serious direction - while missing much of the smell, sound, and scenic beauty of Cajun country. Recommended only for fans of the players or anyone interested in the location or period. The DVD I watched had no CC's and only Spanish subtitles. (C+)

Loved this movie and found it pleasingly fast paced. Never drags...never a dull scene. I especially liked the performances of Tim Curry as the village priest and Lacey Chabert as Florida Picou. Lacey is absolutely beautiful on the "big screen".

The scenes of south Louisiana are gorgeous with giant oaks draped with moss and beautiful bayous. I found the recreation of a bayou village of the 1940's captivating. As a history buff, I also found the little known story of German U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico fascinating.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a well told story with fast action, a mystery, and a romance.