The Story on Page One

Other than trying to figure out why Rita Hayworth was falling for such a weak mama's boy like Gig Young in the first place The Story On Page One is one of her best roles showing our World War II era sex goddess can really act in a good role with proper motivation.

The Story On Page One has Rita Hayworth still beautiful, but in a drab role as a housewife married to cop Alfred Ryder who's a real caveman alpha male type and abusive. I guess Young's sensitivity is what attracted her, he's a 180 degree different from Ryder.

In any event we know what happens right away. Ryder catches Young and Hayworth together at their home. Ryder being a cop has a licensed weapon. He and Young struggle for the gun and it goes off killing Ryder.

She needs a lawyer and as it turns out Hayworth's mom Katherine Squire knows a good one who's kind of gone to seed. Anthony Franciosa who I think is one of the most underrated talents ever is hired.

I'm not sure charges would have been brought had Ryder not been a cop. And Young and Hayworth do some stupid things not helping their case any. In their stupidity they actually convince Franciosa that they're innocent. Now if he can sell a jury which is the crux of the film.

Soome other nice performances of note are Robert Burton as the District Attorney and Mildred Dunnock as Young's mother. She has a scene with Hayworth telling her to keep her hands off her darling boy that's another highlight. One of my favorite of players Hugh Griffith plays the judge and Griffith is not given all that much to do.

The film is adapted from a Clifford Odets play and directed by Odets. He sure brought out a great performance in Rita Hayworth.

This movie is pretty disappointing. Rita Hayworth and Gig Young are, each in a different way, completely unconvincing in roles that portray characters so dumb and passive that it would be hard to play them really well. The long denouement, their trial for murder, is boring and inferior to a standard Perry Mason. How Odets did a movie this trite is a puzzle. For a while I had hopes of a surprise ending, a la "Witness for the Prosecution" -- but Tony Franciosa is not Charles Laughton and the heartwarmingly straight ending is so unsurprising that I was surprised by it.

As a long time criminal/civil trial lawyer, I think most films/TV shows about trials are pretty bad. I thought this one was was good in that the trial procedures, in particular the direct and cross examinations of the witnesses, were highly realistic (as they are in the better known " Anatomy of a Murder"). Sanford Meisner's cross examination of Gig Young was very well done as was Franciosa's of Young's meddling mother. Hugh Griffith also did a good job as the judge. The police and prosecution were not portrayed in a very favorable light which was unusual during that era. I'm surprised that it's not out on DVD as yet. I caught it on FMC when that station was still running good movies. This film gives a far better picture of a trial than those in most TV shows which tend to show actors making speeches for the jury.

Excellent performances from all, and especially a rare performance from Sanford Meisner. Great direction and intensity from Clifford Odets. A rather simple story superbly told. Sanford Meisner's performance is especially outstanding and fresh as the prosecuting attorney on the scent.

I finally had a chance to see this film from beginning to end. I first came across the movie one Saturday afternoon in 1997 and never knew its title. After a couple of years of searching, I gave up. Just last week, a librarian referred me to a video store in North Hollywood that had the title. Rita Hayworth is Prozac-like and convincing in her portrayal as a sensitive, yet withdrawn woman. Her husband, played by Alfred Ryder is as insensitive and abusive as they come; especially that he carries a gun. I thought Gig Young's character would have stood up to his mother, played by Mildred Dunnock, more sooner than later in life. Dunnock's, Mrs. Ellis was superbly overbearing, manipulative and snobbish. Tony Franciosis performed magnificently on cross of the character when questioning her undue and unwanted influence over her son. Once Defender Santini took his seat after questioning, one could see the flames of anger and disdain flow from his nostrils. This movie is a definite must-see for classic movie lovers. All those years were worth the wait and anticipation.