When a director tackles a film project that combines comedy and drama...well, the result can be a big thumbs up or a big thumbs down. In this case, it's a big thumbs up.
The dramatic aspect here is a college professor who decides to read a controversial piece in his English class -- Vanzetti, a real-life anarchist. If he goes through with it, a rich alumni may go to war over the college curriculum. A subplot involves the wife having innocent fun with a former flame.
The comic aspect here revolves around 2 characters -- the former flame and the rich alumni.
It all works pretty well, and despite the laughs still makes the point about freedom of speech and freedom of thought. There are a couple of flaws, including a way too long drunk scene; it needed to be in the film, but it went on and on. On the other hand, Fonda's penultimate scene in the auditorium was very well done.
Henry Fonda is ideal as the professor who goes on a limb. Olivia de Havilland is just fine as his wife, who is torn between having a little fun and being all too serious. Jack Carson is appropriately buffoonish as the old flame (and football player). Eugene Palette is a hoot as the alumnus...with that wonderfully odd voice. Hattie McDaniel is here as, what else, the maid. Ivan Simpson is good as the Dean. And Don DeFore is pretty good as the somewhat clueless (in social situations) football captain.
I like this film a lot, and I think you will if you're a Fonda or deHavilland fan.
The dramatic aspect here is a college professor who decides to read a controversial piece in his English class -- Vanzetti, a real-life anarchist. If he goes through with it, a rich alumni may go to war over the college curriculum. A subplot involves the wife having innocent fun with a former flame.
The comic aspect here revolves around 2 characters -- the former flame and the rich alumni.
It all works pretty well, and despite the laughs still makes the point about freedom of speech and freedom of thought. There are a couple of flaws, including a way too long drunk scene; it needed to be in the film, but it went on and on. On the other hand, Fonda's penultimate scene in the auditorium was very well done.
Henry Fonda is ideal as the professor who goes on a limb. Olivia de Havilland is just fine as his wife, who is torn between having a little fun and being all too serious. Jack Carson is appropriately buffoonish as the old flame (and football player). Eugene Palette is a hoot as the alumnus...with that wonderfully odd voice. Hattie McDaniel is here as, what else, the maid. Ivan Simpson is good as the Dean. And Don DeFore is pretty good as the somewhat clueless (in social situations) football captain.
I like this film a lot, and I think you will if you're a Fonda or deHavilland fan.