Man on Fire

Definitely a forerunner to "Kramer vs. Kramer" with Bing Crosby starring as a father who has custody of his young son. His wife (Mary Fickett) divorced him years ago for a Washington political person. Crosby is a successful businessman who has a wonderful relationship with his son. Enter mom and her husband who want custody of the child.

Anne Seymour, in a one-scene restrained performance, plays the judge who surprises everyone with her decision to give the boy to his mother since the child has no ties with her. An embittered Crosby goes on a brief binge while being consoled by Inger Stevens, an assistant to his attorney played by the usual movie-lawyer E.G. Marshall.

The film is interesting and well acted by all but my flaw with it is that the child is constantly bounced around as Crosby and Fickett fight it out. In addition, the Solomon-like decision did not apply here. If we remember our bible, the woman who was willing to see Solomon divide the child really didn't love the child at all, if she wanted this to happen. In the film, the mother finally relents as she sees that the child really wants to stay with his father and therefore, in the tradition of Solomon, she loves the child more. This is wrong and the writers of this picture should have read the bible more carefully.

Naturally, everyone comes to his senses in this one by the end as a reasonable solution is obtained. One could question why this solution couldn't be put forth at the beginning of the controversy.

Nevertheless, the film shows insight in its discussing the effects of divorce on children, the anger of one parent in particular and that a child should remain with the female parent. Yet, haven't we come a long way in equality for both parents?

A film that is rarely seen today is a must see if you get the chance. The acting is terrific with Bing Crosby giving a performance worthy of another Oscar nomination - in fact all the cast do an excellent job in this well constructed drama about the ugly side of divorce and custody. The film deals very well with these issues and is still relevant even though it was made in 1957. Also this is one of the very few films in which Bing Crosby doesn't sing - except over the titles at the start of the film. Hopefully this will eventually gain a DVD release and a chance to be seen by more people as it only achieved a limited release in 1957 and hasn't been seen a lot since.

Wealthy industrialist Earl Carleton (Bing Crosby) has full custody of his son Ted for the last two years after his divorce. His ex-wife Gwen is back in town with second husband lawyer Bryan Seward. Bryan is a skilled government lawyer and they're looking to share custody. Sam Dunstock (E. G. Marshall) is Earl's lawyer.

Bing is doing a more serious role without any singing. He's still Bing, but the character's stubbornness gets rather awful. He has a seething anger just under the surface which blows up after the judgement. It's a very modern role and a very modern subject matter. The big climax seems to happen in the middle. The self-pitying Earl is not a fun watch. I don't care much about the new romance. After all, it is all about the boy. My mind keeps drifting to Kramer vs Kramer. In a way, this movie is not as good, but it also shows how forward thinking this is. I do have two issues. First, the judgement is rather short-sighted. She should order the boy to go for a summer vacation. This seems to be done for dramatic purposes. Second, the boy is way too stupid. I get that he needs to ask questions about King Solomon, but he sounds so stupid. It would work better if the kid is younger.

The movie opens with Bing Crosby singing the Sammy Fain-Paul Francis Webster title song over the opening credits. But that's all you hear from Crosby the singer. For the first time Bing starred in a film without any singing at all.

The story involves a pair of divorced parents who have fallen out of love and are contesting the custody of their son. Crosby the father has the kid and wife Mary Fickett and her new husband Richard Eastham want him.

It's a well acted film and Crosby proves he doesn't need to sing to carry a film. His Earl Carleton is a troubled man, a loving father wounded terribly by the divorce. Mary Fickett is a loving mother who's been denied custody of her son by a hastily signed agreement at the time of her's and Bing's divorce. Her new husband Richard Eastham wants a share of custody for his wife's sake.

The point is that this is a film without villains. These are just good people caught in a bad situation trying to do the right thing as they conceive it. And in probably the best performance of her long career, Judge Anne Seymour has to decide it. The custody hearing scene in her chambers is the best acted scene in the film.

This situation may have inspired some of the situations portrayed in the current series Judging Amy. The film has an honored place in the films of Bing Crosby. A must see.

Spirited performances by Crosby, Stevens, Seymour, and E.G. Marshall notches this one above its clinical routes. William Schallert has a wonderful bit as Judge Seymour's secretary. In many ways, a 20-year predecessor to Kramer vs. Kramer -- and in its own way, no less poignant.