THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE
(20th Century-Fox-CinemaScope) [TRE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE has all the makings of fine® entertainment: a script by Sydney Boehm from’a novel by Georges Simenon, direction by Henry Hathaway, and a cast that includes Joseph Cotten, Van Johnson, Ruth Roman and Jack Carson. Its interesting story asks the question: "Am I my bréther’s keeper?" Throughout there are good scenes, but as a whole it fails to catch fire. A fast-moving, visually exciting opening sets the scene: in his gafage a wealthy rancher (Mr. Cotten) finds his brother (Mr. Johnson) who has escaped from prison and wants to reach his wife and children in Mexico, across a flooded river. The film is less satisfactory in its later, wholly worthy attempt to give depth to the characters of the rancher and his wife (Miss Roman) by exploring in dialogue their relations with. one another and the rancher’s with his brother. It may be that script or direction are at fault. Anyway, these passages .are slow and give the feeling that the principals are
merely going through the motions. More excitement and suspense follow in a chase and an attempt to cross the river, but the last shots are cliches. Perhaps I expected too much suspense, for this is one/of those films I would like to have | liked more.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19560413.2.50.1.4
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 34, Issue 871, 13 April 1956, Page 26
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220THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE New Zealand Listener, Volume 34, Issue 871, 13 April 1956, Page 26
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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