George Sanders always played it cool, whether it be the obvious lover of Maxim DeWinter's late wife in "Rebecca", the nobleman adviser of the title character in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" or even the acerbic columnist of "All About Eve". Even his ultra villains (pirates, nefarious military leaders) had a twinkle in the eye of their villainy. So when Sanders played a "good guy", audiences were very wary. From the very start of this movie, it is quite stunning to see him playing such a calm, mild-mannered character, a beloved member of his community who has never married and is seemingly devoted to his two spinster sisters, the seemingly much older Moyna Macgill (who complains that nobody pays any attention to her) and the plant-obsessed beauty Geraldine Fitzgerald who on the surface appears to be quite normal but is really more grasping than how MacGill seems to be. When their cozy little world is interrupted by a visitor from New York (Ella Raines) who falls in love with Sanders, the sisters act pleased, but are they really, and how will Sanders respond when he finds out the efforts made to keep him and Raines from marrying?
A medium sized town in Massachussatts is the setting for this drama of the destruction of family and the inner-workings of one's mind when one is pushed to the limits and to the point of no return. The twists and turns in the plot become quite aggravating with the way the story unfolds, but in watching Sanders suddenly very slowly snap after Raines leaves him for another man (realizing that Fitzgerald is always going to be a thorn in their side), you can understand why the writers choose to play it out the way they do. The performances are all excellent with small town U.S.A. atmosphere perfectly designed. Harry Von Zell adds bombastic humor as the drug store clerk who drunkenly drops a bombshell on Sanders.
Then, there's Sara Allgood, the veteran Irish actress, giving her all to the lovable but crotchety cook who constantly argues with Macgill over everything and anything, from gooseberry pie to too much sugar in the coffee. Their arguments aren't just light-hearted banter for humor sake: they really seem like they are serious about what they are fighting for. The argument erupts even further when Macgill reveals the truth about what sister Fitzgerald has been up to, and it is the performance through Sanders' eyes which reveals the inner turmoil he's been undergoing, living with three women and basically under a rock as he discovers the life he's given up to cater to their needs. Not many movies really give a hint into the future of psychology with realistic portrayals of passive/aggressive neurotics like Fitzgerald, and the thundering volcano that can erupt at any time when somebody seemingly cool, calm and collected realizes what a sap they've been.
A medium sized town in Massachussatts is the setting for this drama of the destruction of family and the inner-workings of one's mind when one is pushed to the limits and to the point of no return. The twists and turns in the plot become quite aggravating with the way the story unfolds, but in watching Sanders suddenly very slowly snap after Raines leaves him for another man (realizing that Fitzgerald is always going to be a thorn in their side), you can understand why the writers choose to play it out the way they do. The performances are all excellent with small town U.S.A. atmosphere perfectly designed. Harry Von Zell adds bombastic humor as the drug store clerk who drunkenly drops a bombshell on Sanders.
Then, there's Sara Allgood, the veteran Irish actress, giving her all to the lovable but crotchety cook who constantly argues with Macgill over everything and anything, from gooseberry pie to too much sugar in the coffee. Their arguments aren't just light-hearted banter for humor sake: they really seem like they are serious about what they are fighting for. The argument erupts even further when Macgill reveals the truth about what sister Fitzgerald has been up to, and it is the performance through Sanders' eyes which reveals the inner turmoil he's been undergoing, living with three women and basically under a rock as he discovers the life he's given up to cater to their needs. Not many movies really give a hint into the future of psychology with realistic portrayals of passive/aggressive neurotics like Fitzgerald, and the thundering volcano that can erupt at any time when somebody seemingly cool, calm and collected realizes what a sap they've been.