Alas, this one is presented on the Warner Archive DVD in black-and-white rather than the movie's original sepia. When filming with a sepia wash in mind, the cameraman would open up at least another stop. If this is not corrected in the printing, everything will have a washed-out look in black-and-white – which it certainly does here! So we already have one strike against the movie even before we start to watch it. Strike two turns out to be Brian Aherne. Frankly, as presented on the DVD, Aherne doesn't have enough charisma for a role as large and as demanding as this one. True, Aherne seems larger than life on the DVD – which is a good thing to aim for, especially if you are impersonating an actor – but he doesn't project the charisma that Garrick undoubtedly possessed. An actors' actor like Bill Powell could certainly get away with it, but not Mr. Aherne. He lacks the punch, the identification, the admiration, the larger-than-life personality. Director James Whale obviously realized that Aherne was not exactly the greatest Garrick in the world, so he has attempted to place Garrick center stage every time the camera catches him – which is far too often. Poor Olivia de Havilland receives hardly any attention from the director at all. Her role was small enough to start off with, but although I saw the movie only a few hours ago, I can remember her in only one shot. Yes, just a single shot in which she figured! On the other hand, Aherne comes to mind in so many shots, he literally smothers just about everyone else in the cast. I didn't spot Lana Turner at all. I'm told that she "hovers around in the background." Well, that could be true. Melville Cooper, on the other hand, has a comparatively large role – and he makes the most of it! So this is definitely one for Melville Cooper fans! The plot, such as it is, turns around on what is meant to be an elaborate joke. Personally, I feel that a joke is too weak an instrument to sustain interest in a movie that runs 90 minutes. You could get away with it in a two-reel short maybe! But 90 minutes, despite all the glossy production values, and a support cast as long as your arm – no!
Review of The Great Garrick
