M・クリフト、E・テイラー共演、貧しい家庭に育ち、出世を夢見る野心家の青年が破滅してゆく物語を通じて、資本主義社会を痛烈に批判したヒューマンドラマの名作。 貧しい家庭で育った青年ジョージ・イーストマン。出世欲の強い彼はある時、工場を経営する叔父のもとで働くことに。やがて、彼は社交界で令嬢アンジェラと出会い、惹かれ始める。また一方で、同僚のアリスとも親密になる。そして彼女はジョージの子を身籠もった。だがパーティーで再会したジョージとアンジェラは、互いに強く惹かれ合い関係を深めていく。こうして対照的にアリスの存在が煩わしくなってきたジョージは、彼女の殺害を謀るのだが…。
製作費: $2,300,000 (3億円)
興行収入: $7,000,000 (11億円)
推定収支: $4,700,000 (7億円)
※製作費・興行収入はTMDBのデータを参照しています。収支は(興行収入 - 製作費)で算出したFindKey独自の推定値であり、広告宣伝費や諸経費は含まれません (1ドル=150円換算)。
監督: George Stevens
脚本: Michael Wilson / Theodore Dreiser / Harry Brown
音楽: Franz Waxman
制作: George Stevens
撮影監督: William C. Mellor
I think anyone who only recalls Dame Elizabeth Taylor from her later life ought to watch this and perhaps they will begin to appreciate just how beautiful and talented she was - and this is by no means her best effort on screen. This film belongs fairly and squarely to Montgomery Clift. He is "George Eastman", a cousin from the less wealthy branch of the family who seeks employment from his uncle "Charles" (Herbert Heyes). He is politely received and given a fairly lowly job, but it's a start and he can reassure his mother (Anne Revere) whilst courting "Alice" (Shelley Winters). Enter the young "Angela Vickers" (Taylor) who immediately turns his head. He can think of no-one else, she captivates him - he is spellbound. What to do about poor old "Alice" though? She isn't going to just let him dump her, she is in love and she is now expecting his child. Director George Stevens handles the rest of this film will consummate skill. "George" takes "Alice" for a picnic, a boating trip, an accident - and then a trial at which he is accused of clobbering her over the head with an oar before she drowned. Witnesses gather, gossip is traded and opinions are formed that may well send him to the chair... Clift, in his earlier roles, had the ability to mix allure and vulnerability in away seldom seen at the time, and here he develops his character from shy young man to calculating, if out of his depth, lover really well. Shelley Winters rarely disappointed too and again, here, she is strong as the needy yet loving girlfriend spurned. Franz Waxman scores perfectly and the photography is frequently tight and immersing. Court room dramas can be tricky to keep lively, but as we come to the denouement here, there is always some jeopardy as to the verdict. I got that wrong, by the way... Super film, this - big screen if you can.
