knscummings

Quality Street is a contrived romance, with a small cast, on a set that looks like a play stage, with few visual impacts and in B&W. So, why did we enjoy it so much? The cast, down to the overplayed smaller parts, all does a great job. The ensemble cast brings spirit to even the small parts, the dialogue is clever, and the asides and glances make it fun. We particularly enjoyed the set and period behaviors as great insights on life in the early 19th century. Hollywood did a great job in establishing this period essence through effective use of hints and props. If you like Hepburn, you will enjoy this moral story, with feminine strength in an unforgiving society. Worth a relook!

After the hype and awards, I expected to see art, passion, professionalism. Instead I saw a poor quality product with poor direction, poor diction, unconvincing (or absent) passion, hurt, and a broken story line. In a few years, maybe the glowing critics will relook at the movie and reflect that their hype and hope for glory was not repaid with either art or a quality performance. For now, some of us will be the only ones to realize that it was a boring, poorly crafted, inarticulately presented movie that leaves the impartial viewer empty and disappointed. I'm glad I saw it, to make up my own mind--but I should have saved the time and money.

I enjoyed this movie as an AF veteran and a nephew of a fighter pilot who flew in an England based squadron. I am not sure if I would have enjoyed the movie as much without that personal investment. The production is not that impressive. The story of the maverick fighter pilot having to accept responsibility after being thrust into a leadership role was fairly predictable, in 2006. Maybe it was new and refreshing in 1948, but this is not a classic, must have, multifaceted war classic. However, it is a good viewing, once every few years, if you are a WWII buff. The inaccuracies and location problems are lost when I view the actual combat footage. The personal stories are consistent with reality, even though not told well.