Really wanted to like 'Susan and God' so much more, and it is another film that should have been a good film considering its talent but wasn't. The subject sounded interesting, have never seen the play and knew nothing about the film until it was recommended on this site so there is nothing to compare. And the film has a great cast, hard to go wrong with talent like Joan Crawford and Fredric March in the leads, and George Cukor made some fine films.
'Susan and God' is not one of those unfortunately. Actually consider it one of his worst and if there was a personal list of top 5 worst Cukor films 'Susan and God' would definitely be on there and quite high up. Everybody involved has done much better, while March and most of the supporting cast come off quite well considering what was going on around them and what they were given to work with there are not many people that will consider this one of Crawford's finest hours.
Crawford's performance, for me and quite a few others, is one of her all time worst, she was a fine actress but one would not think so seeing her jaw-droppingly over the top and unintentionally campy performance here in 'Susan and God'. The way her character is written doesn't help her, a character that is impossible to root for and so affected. Also a character that dominates the film far too much beyond her very striking entrance and really unbalances the film, alienating the viewer as well as the characters. Rita Quigley is also more obnoxious than touching. Cukor's direction is disappointingly pedestrian, like he was out of his depth with the material or not interested in it.
The film is also far too long and drags badly from too much padding. Especially in the very talky and stage-bound first half. The tone feels muddled and like the film was trying to do too much or didn't know what it wanted to be, the comedy not sharp enough, the drama being overwrought and the satire being laboured. The script has some great moments of crackling wit, but in general it needed to be much tighter and sharper as well as more subtle. Did not find myself caring for any of the characters, due to them being underwritten and being completely over-shadowed by the titular character. And then there is the very simplistic forced studio interference-like ending, with a out of nowhere decision, that is too at odds with the rest of the story.
For all those bad things, not everything is done poorly. March plays his role with understated dignity and there is fun support from Nigel Bruce (without being a bumbling buffoon), Rita Hayworth, Ruth Hussey and Marjorie Main.
It's a very nice-looking film too, sumptuously designed in both sets and costuming and shot in a not too confined way. There are some fun lines and Crawford's entrance is a show-stopper.
On the whole, disappointing. 4/10
'Susan and God' is not one of those unfortunately. Actually consider it one of his worst and if there was a personal list of top 5 worst Cukor films 'Susan and God' would definitely be on there and quite high up. Everybody involved has done much better, while March and most of the supporting cast come off quite well considering what was going on around them and what they were given to work with there are not many people that will consider this one of Crawford's finest hours.
Crawford's performance, for me and quite a few others, is one of her all time worst, she was a fine actress but one would not think so seeing her jaw-droppingly over the top and unintentionally campy performance here in 'Susan and God'. The way her character is written doesn't help her, a character that is impossible to root for and so affected. Also a character that dominates the film far too much beyond her very striking entrance and really unbalances the film, alienating the viewer as well as the characters. Rita Quigley is also more obnoxious than touching. Cukor's direction is disappointingly pedestrian, like he was out of his depth with the material or not interested in it.
The film is also far too long and drags badly from too much padding. Especially in the very talky and stage-bound first half. The tone feels muddled and like the film was trying to do too much or didn't know what it wanted to be, the comedy not sharp enough, the drama being overwrought and the satire being laboured. The script has some great moments of crackling wit, but in general it needed to be much tighter and sharper as well as more subtle. Did not find myself caring for any of the characters, due to them being underwritten and being completely over-shadowed by the titular character. And then there is the very simplistic forced studio interference-like ending, with a out of nowhere decision, that is too at odds with the rest of the story.
For all those bad things, not everything is done poorly. March plays his role with understated dignity and there is fun support from Nigel Bruce (without being a bumbling buffoon), Rita Hayworth, Ruth Hussey and Marjorie Main.
It's a very nice-looking film too, sumptuously designed in both sets and costuming and shot in a not too confined way. There are some fun lines and Crawford's entrance is a show-stopper.
On the whole, disappointing. 4/10