People Will Talk (1951)

Powerful

Just perfect...

Highly Overrated But Still Good

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

When I heard that director Joe Mankiewicz was adapting the well- known, pre-war German play, "Dr. Pratorius", into a movie, I wondered who he was going to cast as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Basil Rathbone had been off the screen since 1946, but I certainly hoped Mankiewicz could induce him to return. When I heard that Finlay Currie had been signed, I assumed he would play Holmes, whilst Walter Slezak essayed Dr. Watson. (Their accents were all wrong for the parts, but they would have made a great Holmes-Watson combo all the same). Instead, Holmes and Watson have been completely eliminated — as they were by playwright Goetz himself (incidentally, the name is pronounced: "Gets") in his own 1949 movie adaptation. Finlay Currie — giving one of the finest performances of his ultra-distinguished career — plays an entirely new yet fascinating character, a brilliant Mankiewicz creation; whilst Walter Slezak has a cleverly expanded role as the lead character's warmly amusing friend and loyal confidant.Unappreciated in its day by many critics. as well as the movie- going public, "People Will Talk" has yet to find the niche it deserves in any popular appreciation of Mankiewicz's work. More astringent than "All About Eve", more engaging than "A Letter to Three Wives", more satirical than "Million Dollar Legs", and far more dramatic than "The Barefoot Contessa", this impassioned, intense, quirky, captivating, wittily unconventional, ingeniously crowded-with-good-things "Pratorious", is the cinematic high-point of Mankiewicz's career. AVAILABLE on an excellent Fox DVD.

It's interesting to note the relatively solid rating this film gets here on IMDb (7.3 at the time of this writing), and to read the reviews and discussion. There's no doubt about it -- this is an odd film -- almost desafinado -- slightly out of tune.The opening segment of the film is interesting...and funny. Pipsqueak Professor Elwell (Hume Cronyn) is interviewing Margaret Hamilton (the witch in "The Wizard Of Oz") trying to find out information about the mysterious Dr. Praetorious (Cary Grant) and his constant companion Shunderson (Finlay Currie; the devout follower of Christ in "Ben-Hur").From there we meet young Jeanne Crain who faints in class. She goes to Dr. Praetorius and learns she is pregnant, and he learns she is unwed. She attempts suicide and stays at his clinic, but then disappears. But, Cary Grant pursues her to her uncle's farm where she and her father unhappily live...but not for long...he proposes.And then comes the climax of the film -- the hearing where Elwell brings charges against Preatorious. It's a great scene as Grant responds to all the charges, one by one. But then comes the question about the mysterious Shunderson, which he refuses to answer. Will he fall on this? No, because Shunderson enters the room and tells his own marvelous story. Hearing over. And Shunderson, in private, calls Elwell a "little man".I enjoy this film every time I watch it, and I must have watched it more than half-a-dozen times. And the main reason I enjoy it is the wonderful performance of an aging and very tan Cary Grant; it really is one of his best performances. Jeanne Crain is superb here, as well, and this is one of her best role. Finlay Currie is wonderful as the mysterious Shunderson. Although his character is not likable, Hume Cronyn's performance is exceptional. Walter Slezak plays a lovable curmudgeon who is friends with Praetorious. And this was the film where I first noticed Sidney Blackmer...a fine and underrated character actor; this is one of his best roles. Basil Ruysdael does well as the college dean.Earlier I said that this film was almost desafinado. But that is not a negative. It's gloriously different. Highly recommended!

A professor falls in love with a pregnant, unwed student. Given the time of its release, the frank handling of out-of-wedlock pregnancy is surprising. The film also takes on McCarthyism, as Grant is accused of unethical medical practices. People do talk a lot here, but it's mostly interesting dialog from Mankiewicz, coming off back-to-back screen writing Oscars the previous two years. Grant and Crain are fine, although their age difference makes their romance a bit awkward. There's a good supporting cast. The soundtrack prominently and fittingly features the "Academic Festival Overture," which Brahms wrote as a potpourri of beer- drinking college songs.

Another reviewer has already used the word "superb" for Cronyn's performance so I will abandon my original intent to use it.I saw this movie fifty to sixty or so years ago but Cronyn's characterization was so impressive that it is still a vivid memory.And to do that in a supporting role . . .I must go watch it again.That was all I wanted to say but I am faced with the 10 line rule; so ...Walter Slezak once again demonstrated his versatility to good effect. I had a big crush on Jeanne Crain in the fifties so seeing her in a sympathetic romantic role was a treat. Grant had reached his peak by this point and maintained it well for years.