This is the populist film to end all populist films. This is what 'everyman' means.
One of the impressive things to me is how hilarious Gary Cooper is in this movie. His facial expressions, the bashfulness, the surprise, the innocence, it's all so very unexpected, natural and funny. As the plot progresses, the down on his luck ex-pitcher gains popularity and slowly realizes that he can make a difference.
The plot is fascinating and the picture just zooms along even after all these years. Barbara Stanwyck is in top form, luminous and smart, although her shrill encouragement gets to be a bit much, especially at the end. Walter Brennan is bitterly funny and foreboding as Cooper's hobo buddy and the rest of the cast are pretty much pitch perfect as is the timeless script.
Of course the howling mob scene looks like the real thing and is frightening.
The only false note is the end. But how do you end a movie like this??
One of the impressive things to me is how hilarious Gary Cooper is in this movie. His facial expressions, the bashfulness, the surprise, the innocence, it's all so very unexpected, natural and funny. As the plot progresses, the down on his luck ex-pitcher gains popularity and slowly realizes that he can make a difference.
The plot is fascinating and the picture just zooms along even after all these years. Barbara Stanwyck is in top form, luminous and smart, although her shrill encouragement gets to be a bit much, especially at the end. Walter Brennan is bitterly funny and foreboding as Cooper's hobo buddy and the rest of the cast are pretty much pitch perfect as is the timeless script.
Of course the howling mob scene looks like the real thing and is frightening.
The only false note is the end. But how do you end a movie like this??