This is the short review, the long review contains SPOILERS. Truthfully, I don't think they're that amazing, the plot was pretty straightforward and, after a certain point, predictable. But just in case you're a purist, watch it first. And when you have, you can go to the LONG REVIEW

This was the movie chosen for the July film discussion at my library; our theme this month was Drama, and boy did this fit the bill. There was a difference of opinion in the group as to how good this movie was, which led to all kinds of discussion, but you'll have to watch it yourself to see what you think; I had a 'thumbs sideways' feeling about it.

THUMBS UP:
David Niven was EXCELLENT. Wendy Hiller just had to show up and she'd improve anything she was in. The ending was VERY satisfying, for two reasons that I go into in the long review. There were a few places in which Burt Lancaster was actually acting. Shot in atmospheric black-and-white (evidently because of a lack of money, but it worked very well.) Lawrence Olivier is not in this (and he was originally going to be, so I thanked my lucky stars he had to give it a pass...)

THUMBS DOWN:
The rest of the time Burt Lancaster was on screen. Deborah Kerr was evidently playing an older daughter (maybe 30ish) but acts way younger, at least to my modern sensibilities; I can't imagine anyone over about 21 putting up with that kind of treatment from a parent. And the whole feeling of the picture, which is quite dated, especially when the whole plot comes out.

David Niven is EXCELLENT and deservedly won the Best Actor award. Rita Hayworth is beautiful but is basically just there, nobody expects great acting from her. Wendy Hiller is wonderful as always, and Burt Lancaster has moments.

And, without giving anything else away, my biggest problem with this movie is that it's too much set in its time; it's a period piece, and much of it consisted of viewpoints that are now pretty dated; rather than being a charming record of a vanished era, they make me say, "Naaaah!"