Post by rmichaelpyle on Aug 12, 2009 4:37:10 GMT -6
I watched "She Wouldn't Say Yes" (1945) with Rosalind Russell and Lee Bowman. It was the third of four on the newly released set "The Icons of Screwball Comedy, Volume One". This one I'd never even heard of, let alone seen, before. It's a breezy little comedy, very witty, actually quite enjoyable - up to a point. The point happens to be Lee Bowman. He's marvelous as a bad guy in film noir, but as a comic lead he's - BORING! Rosalind Russell gets to chew the scenery, and she's really wonderful. It's just that she never gets the chance to see the guy she wants because he's - Lee Bowman! Also in the cast are a large host of great character actors and actresses, from Harry Davenport and Charles Winninger (best part I've seen him in for a long time!) to Sara Haden and Percy Kilbride. Just extra, uncredited parts are filled by great actors and actresses such as Mantan Moreland, Willie Best, Sam McDaniel, Cora Witherspoon, Russell Hicks, and I even noticed Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. The plot revolves around a psychiatrist, played by Russell, who won't say "yes" to any man being around in her life. With the help of her doctor father, Lee Bowman tries to become that man. All this is just at the end of World War II, and Bowman is about to be off to the war. Could have been a really great film, and it's directed by Alexander Hall who had directed Russell in 1942's "My Sister Eileen", but it just doesn't go the distance, even though it's still witty and a good watch. I might watch it again, but I'll be an old man.
