Thursday, 21 April 2022

Without Love (1945 Harold Bucquet)

Hepburn and Tracy's second billing, at MGM, thus Q recognised the same dog from Undercurrent. Actually, it's the same cameraman - Karl Freund - also. Freund was apparently one of those rude and obnoxious cameramen who spent ages lighting everything, much to Tracy's exasperation.

He plays a brusque scientist who wants to set up shop in Hepburn's cellar - and that's not a euphemism, as in this unlikely tale, he - having had his heart broken - wants no romance, and neither does she (short lived perfect marriage). Yeah, yeah - we all know how this will turn out. Source is Philip (Holiday & The Philadelphia Story) Barry play, in which Hepburn had starred, screenwritten by Donald Ogden Stewart (same).

Tracy was most unhappy about the role and spent some time on alcohol binges during which periods production had to be halted.

With them are Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn (Under the Clock, Song of the Thin Man), Carl Esmond, Patricia Morison, Felix Bressart and - in a very short scene - Gloria Grahame.

It goes on a bit - an hour 51 - these MGM films seem longer than ones from other studios, as though to say 'See - we gives youse more film for your buck'. Actually I think Warner Brothers films would talk like that - MGM films probably talk posh. Still largely enjoyable though.





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