Cary Grant is my favorite actor, but this is not my favorite Grant film. For most of the film, Grant plays a character you can't like -- a perpetual liar and fraud...not that he's not classy...although perhaps the better term would be slick. That's not to say his performance is anything but excellent, but it's simply difficult to want to like this thug who is willing to avoid the draft by taking a dead man's identity and sell out his country's best interests in the middle of World War II.
Of course, late in the film he is transformed into a more noble character...because he falls in love. Of course, he must suffer...so he is shot in the gut and forced to leave behind the first real love of his life...to go into the Merchant Marines. But, of course, this is Hollywood, so on a foggy night she comes waiting for him at the pier...and they are reunited. It sounds corny, and it is...but it works.
The best surprise in this film is not Cary Grant's acting. No surprise there...he's always good to great. But his costar -- Laraine Day -- turns in a fine performance as the high society do-gooder that falls in love with Mr. Lucky. There are some fine character actors here, as well, and each plays his or her part well: Charles Bickford, Gladys Cooper, Alan Carney, the venerable Henry Stephenson, and Paul Stewart.
As I said, it's a good movie, but far from Grant's best. Very watchable, but in my view, not one for the DVD shelf.
Of course, late in the film he is transformed into a more noble character...because he falls in love. Of course, he must suffer...so he is shot in the gut and forced to leave behind the first real love of his life...to go into the Merchant Marines. But, of course, this is Hollywood, so on a foggy night she comes waiting for him at the pier...and they are reunited. It sounds corny, and it is...but it works.
The best surprise in this film is not Cary Grant's acting. No surprise there...he's always good to great. But his costar -- Laraine Day -- turns in a fine performance as the high society do-gooder that falls in love with Mr. Lucky. There are some fine character actors here, as well, and each plays his or her part well: Charles Bickford, Gladys Cooper, Alan Carney, the venerable Henry Stephenson, and Paul Stewart.
As I said, it's a good movie, but far from Grant's best. Very watchable, but in my view, not one for the DVD shelf.