Storm Center

Widowed librarian in a small American town, with some 25 years of experience under her belt, is ousted from her post after refusing to take a book about Communism off the shelves. Despite her sensible pleas to the skittish City Council about censoring any type of material, no matter how abhorrent, the woman is soon branded an outcast among the townspeople when her past affiliations with Communist organizations hits the press. Decent potboiler material wants to hit home with a thought-provoking message, but the dramatic handling of the situations is so stilted--and Bette Davis' lead performance is so mannered--that eventually the film succumbs to a kind of pedantic obtuseness. An exaggerated sub-plot about a book-loving child who turns on Davis is ridiculous, as are the characterizations of his parents (his father wants the kid to play ball, like all the other boys, and considers brainy occupations pinko propaganda!). It's insufferable all right, even with Bette attempting to play it with a stiffer-upper-lip; she's dignified in her little hats and unruffled, low-income outfits, but the high-powered star doesn't seem to connect with this part. The supporting cast (including an open-mouthed Kim Hunter as the assistant librarian) alternate between worried concern and prickly consternation, hardly the combination for a stormy melodrama. **1/2 from ****