Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

Life Minus 102 Minutes

Practically the entirety of my life thus far I have heard of the wonders of Love is a Many-Splendored Thing.  Fifty-six years, minus the first ten years owing to reaching some fair age of awareness makes my viewing of this movie 97 years too soon.  I walked away thinking - hell, another couple hours closer to the grave.  And if I had to watch this one again - I'd likely welcome the outcome!

How can you mess up a movie starring Jennifer Jones?

The movie boasts a cast that includes William Holden  and Jennifer Jones, and seriously, even Jennifer Jones couldn't save this one.  The dialogue seemed a morass of self-loathing, self-pity and the faux anxiety of the poor rich white folk.  I mean, how is it possible to have Jennifer Jones in a bathing suit and the movie still stink?  I think the American love-affair with this movie is a matter of the Emperor's New Clothes!

I love the value of contemporary reviews

If you've followed The Gray Fedora for any amount of time at all, you know I'm a huge fan of the old New York Times film critic, Bosley Crowther.  He was witty, sardonic, sarcastic and honest about movies.  Sometimes I disagree with his assessment, and other times, like this one - I agree!  Here's what ol' Bosley had to say on August 19, 1955:  

"With an impotent screen play, it is no wonder that Mr. Holden and Miss Jones find themselves going around in narrowing circles, talking endlessly and holding hands. There is a great deal of running to meet each other at the top of a hill or looking out across the lovely harbor and insisting this simply can't go on. Mr. Holden is serious and unyielding; Miss Jones is lovely and intense. Her dark beauty reflects sunshine and sadness. She could be a piece of delicately carved stone. There is little to say of the other actors… The Hong Kong scenery is endlessly exciting in color and CinemaScope. But the locale and its restless population have little or nothing to do with the shaping of the tale."

Let's see what people today think

In a more recent review, Ulkar Alakbarova over at Let the Movie Move Us seems to really like Love is a Many Splendored Thing, saying, “If you really want to understand the difference between “Modern Hollywood” and “Old Hollywood”, then it is more than enough to see the movie Love is a Many-Splendored Thing. That will be able to answer to all your questions.”  Stuff and nonsense so-say-I.

Third Uncle: We shall now have tea and speak of absurdities.

RATED:  Bad 

WATCH IT AGAIN:  No way! 

DO I WANT TO OWN IT?:  Wouldn't even buy it with your money!  

Thanks for stopping by - see ya at the movies!