The Scoundrel's Wife

After checking this out of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library a couple of weeks ago, I finally watched Cut Off native Glen Pitre's The Scoundrel's Wife (or as printed in the movie proper-Home Front) with my parents. My dad was bored and left partly through but me and my mom stayed for the whole thing and both enjoyed it. Tatum O'Neal plays Camille Picou, a widow during World War II who's ostracized in her community that's the same as the director's because of something she and her late husband did during the '30s. Her teen children Florida (Lacey Chabert) and Blue (Patrick McCullough) don't find out what until the end. Meanwhile, a doctor from Germany (Julian Sands) has arrived and takes care of many other men from there as they arrive from U-boats wounded and sick. That doesn't sit will with many of the residents including a Coast Guard Ensign (Jack Burwell, played by Eion Bailey who I just found out lost the Batman role to Christian Bale for Batman Begins years ago) who is under pressure to make an arrest. I'll stop right there and mention that Pitre the director takes enough time with his and wife Michelle Benoit's screenplay to figure out who's with who and how times were in the Pelican State during the early '40s. There's also an amusing turn by Tim Curry as the local priest also originally from Germany who likes to drink. Many fine performances abound in this regional drama and besides McCullough who's from Metairie, other Louisiana natives acting in this production are Michael Arata (Coast Guard Commander) who was born in New Orleans and John McConnell (Dance Hall Owner) who was born in my now hometown of Baton Rouge and has a radio show in New Orleans. Wonderful location shots of Lafourche Parish and Lockport flow through the movie. This is the third movie written by Pitre that I've seen, the others being Belizaire the Cajun and Hurricane on the Bayou which I saw at the IMAX theatre in the Cresent City. For anyone interested in Louisiana period flavor, I highly recommend The Scoundrel's Wife (a.k.a. Home Front).

Saw this under the title "Home Front". The scenery was obviously true to LA. The characters are recognizable to anyone who has ever lived in a small town, even if a war isn't going on.

Tim Curry is, as usual, superb. Tatum O'Neil is a breath of fresh air from the typical Hollywood fair. I recognized each character driving this film. Also wondered why I'd never heard of it before just discovering it on a video shelf at Blockbuster. Left me wondering how much was true as I was aware of U-boats off the coast of U.S. but didn't know anything about tankers being blown up. Guess I have some research to do. I am recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys real movies, not just effects disguised as a movie.

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.

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.