Belle mais dangereuse

Some published reviews of this picture roast it as an inane waste of time, but having seen the film prior to reading those reviews, I was quite surprised. Although there is nothing magnificent about the movie, and it has its far-fetched quotient, it is nonetheless quite a lovely little picture. The awkwardness of the set-up is almost completely outweighed by the believability and lovability of most of the characters. I'm generally of the opinion that Robert Mitchum can do no wrong, but I was unprepared for the calm and masculine sweetness of his performance in a role that might normally have gone to Robert Young or Robert Cummings. Jean Simmons is much more interesting in roles where she can smolder a little, but she's almost adorable here. And the supporting cast, especially Arthur Hunnicutt, is both true to small-town life and quite excellent at depicting well-drawn and individual characters. And my goodness, whatever happened to Eleanor Todd, the cutie who yearns for Mitchum's affections? She apparently appeared in one other film, also with Mitchum. She's really attractive and interesting in what might otherwise have been a cardboard role. Nice little surprise, this picture.