MerryArtist

Perhaps the best way to describe this short film is to label it "a star-studded 20 minutes." As a movie, it is reminiscent of the early 10-minute silent reels with goofy plots, only way less developed. Each scene is quickly abandoned in an effort to show as many well-known actors as possible. The story merely serves as an excuse to show off Hollywood's biggest stars, ranging from Joan Crawford to Laurel & Hardy. So have fun with it, and just be sure to pay attention or you'll miss a star!

THE CAST (in order of appearance): Wallace Beery, Buster Keaton, Jack Hill, J. Farrell MacDonald, Edward G. Robinson, George E. Stone, Eddie Kane, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Allen 'Farina' Hoskins, Matthew 'Stymie' Beard, Norman 'Chubby' Chaney, Mary Ann Jackson, Shirley Jean Rickert, Dorothy 'Echo' DeBorba, Bobby 'Wheezer' Hutchins, Pete the Pup, Polly Moran, Norma Shearer, Hedda Hopper, Joan Crawford, William Haines, Dorothy Lee, Edmund Lowe, Victor McLaglen, El Brendel, Charles Murray, George Sidney, Winnie Lightner, Fifi D'Orsay, Warner Baxter, Irene Dunne, Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Richard Dix, Lowell Sherman, Claudia Dell, Eugene Palette, Stuart Erwin, 'Skeets' Gallagher, Gary Cooper, Wynne Gibson, 'Buddy' Rogers, Maurice Chevalier, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Loretta Young, Richard Barthelmess, Charles Butterworth, Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon, Frank Fay, Barbara Stanwyck, Jack Oakie, Fay Wray, Joe E. Brown, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Little Billy Rhodes, Mitzi Green.

As a whole, this movie doesn't work at all. Different parts of the story jump around here and there and fail to form a cohesive piece -- the result of a poorly written script. For instance, halfway into the movie and you still get no idea of where it is all going. You get a vague sense that Johnny's (Jimmy Stewart) inability to support his family and the consequent strain on his relationship with his wife is part of the main plot, only to be completely thrown off by a new development in the story, which doesn't fit into the first portion of the film at all. It's almost like watching two different stories at the same time.

Despite this serious flaw, the film is "saved," so to speak, by its superb cast. Both Charles Coburn and Lucille Watson give their typical character portrayals. Jimmy Stewart gives his usual touching performance that is so well-known to film-goers. Meanwhile, Carole Lombard tries a hand at a dramatic role -- and succeeds. As a wife, she is charmingly believable, and as a mother, simply shines. Thus the unfortunate film is held together -- albeit weakly -- by the performance of the cast. Otherwise there isn't much that would convince one to keep watching. However, it may be worth your time if your main object is to enjoy the performance of either Jimmy Stewart or Carole Lombard, or both.

"Under Capricorn" is a largely underrated Hitchcock film with fine taste and superb acting. It may seem like sentimental corn to some, but the quality of the professional cast makes that impossible. Whether or not the script consists of the best lines or not, Ingrid Bergman does an exquisite job of displaying both a troubled drunkard and a beautiful lady of class at the same time while presenting the audience with Lady Henrietta Flusky, an Irish girl who falls in love with her stable boy. Margaret Leighton, who plays Milly the housekeeper, excels in her role as a woman with wicked intentions to harm Henrietta out of love for her Master Flusky (Cotten). The excellent chemistry and intensity between Cotten and Bergman draws you in, while the plot grabs your attention with the usual love angle. Yet Hitchcock, a master of thrillers and suspense, exercises his godly technique even here in this romantic drama. While the film is neither an adventure piece nor particularly in the category of suspense or thriller, the drama is powerful and captivates the audience as a thriller would. The scenes are beautifully choreographed with period costumes of great eye candy quality, and the film is done in the classic Technicolor that is sometimes even more appealing than our color today, if used correctly - which is the case with this film. This is a film very worth taking the time out to see, if only to take in the skillful cinematography and brilliant acting. For those who appreciate the contributions of Hitchcock, this will undoubtedly be a sublime experience wherein you will get a taste of the master's magnificent manipulations.