Joan Crawford is lovely, and was so pretty when she was younger, but this movie about Peggy Eaton, influential confidante of Andrew Jackson during his presidency, is a deadly dull affair. Crawford is far too old for the role (she was about 30 when she filmed this, playing a...what?...18 year old?) and looks ridiculous in the frilly young woman frocks she's asked to wear. She looks a little Baby Jane-ish actually, kind of ironic given the ultimate trajectory her career would take. The movie does what so many movies from that time period did, which is take what could have been an interesting biography and make it instead about which man the main character will end up with at the end.
I only watched this in the first place because I wanted to see Beulah Bondi's Oscar-nominated performance in the very first year that the Academy gave a Supporting Actress award. But be warned if that is also your reason for seeking this one out. Bondi has a small role (she plays Jackson's wife) and is fine for what she's asked to do, but doesn't really give a memorable award-worthy performance.
The film was also nominated for Best Cinematography, though it's pretty pedestrian. And it's even more of a head scratcher nomination given that there were only three nominees that year so the field was even more competitive than usual.
Grade: D.
I only watched this in the first place because I wanted to see Beulah Bondi's Oscar-nominated performance in the very first year that the Academy gave a Supporting Actress award. But be warned if that is also your reason for seeking this one out. Bondi has a small role (she plays Jackson's wife) and is fine for what she's asked to do, but doesn't really give a memorable award-worthy performance.
The film was also nominated for Best Cinematography, though it's pretty pedestrian. And it's even more of a head scratcher nomination given that there were only three nominees that year so the field was even more competitive than usual.
Grade: D.