I really wanted to like this movie. I often enjoy the old WB "women's films". This one looked promising, with some lovely moments in the beginning, but then just fell apart. First, it's way too long. The ridiculous story, though melodramatic, is just not meaty enough for 2.5 hours. As someone else noted, Davis's transformation takes all of 5 minutes of screen time. Then there's Bette Davis's performance. I've never seen anything quite like it. I don't know why she felt that she had to shriek all her lines, but whatever her reasons, the results were initially oddly amusing, but ultimately just irritating. What was she thinking? What was the Academy thinking when she was nominated for an Oscar? Claude Rains somehow maintains his dignity, though the final scenes of his return are just plain ridiculous. I was embarrassed for all concerned.
Review of Mr. Skeffington
