THE VALLEY OF DECISION

New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 352, 22 March 1946, Page 25

THE VALLEY OF DECISION

(M-G-M)

FIND that I have left myself little space in which to say anything about this film, but that is perhaps as it should be, since it is so extraordinarily gen-

erous towards itself in the matter of length. Indeed I suggest that it might have been more correctly titled The Valley of Indecision, because the director was clearly unable to decide how and when to end it. But this, I am aware, is not likely to be the popular verdict. I came away from the theatre with the feeling that in making The Valley of Decision, the director must have kept both eyes glued all the time on the box-office. For that matter, I went. into the theatre with much the same feeling, having had to fight my way through the crowds in the foyer, who were either trying to buy tickets for that performance or booking seats for subsequent ones. This film is, in brief, what is known in the trade as "a box-office natural"-a tribute to, and perhaps a justification of, the Hollywood Star System and all that system involves. Everything about The Valley of Decision is designed to return handsome dividends-the stellar "team" of Greer Garson and Gregory Peck (Miss Garson capable, charming, vivacious as_ ever, with an Irish brogue and an aura of that very special kind of womanliness which excites admiration but not jealousy; and Mr. Peck capturing hearts with that profile of his, which reminds you of Abraham Lincoln one moment and Gary Cooper ‘the next); the handpicked supporting cast, which includes Gladys Cooper, Marsha Hunt, Donald Crisp, and Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Barrymore "mugging" atrociously, chewing his dialogue and spitting it out as if it left a nasty taste in his mouth); a story which is oh so touching and oh so improbable, about a servant girl in love in the first reel with the son of the master, a rich mill-owner, but too noble, or too loyal, or too sentimental to marry him until after hours have apparently elapsed ("‘There’s blood on the bridge," she said, and that takes time to eradicate); and finally, direction. which is glossy and slick-but lifeless, I don’t want you to think that The Valley of Decision is not entertaining. It often is. There is nothing actually pernicious about it, either, as there was about Mrs, Parkington. Millions will love it, will ask no better value from the cinema, Frankly I don’t believe there's a single real person in the whole story, and not more than one or two real situations, but if you judge a film by immediate results, this one is an unqualified success, because it certainly achieves its main purpose; that is, to make a lot of money for M-G-M.