The Little Foxes
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Movie Reviews of The Little Foxes
Movie Review: Good portrait of a greedy Southern family...
Summary: 4 Stars
The Little Foxes is by no means an uplifting and heartwarming film, but it is certainly entertaining and offers some interesting insights on how far some greedy people are willing to go to obtain what they want. Additionally, The Little Foxes features an excellent performance from Bette Davis (as well as the rest of the cast), and some fabulous black-and-white cinematography which shows the Southern home in all its elegance. Basically The Little Foxes is about the ultimate Machiavellian woman, Regina Gibbons (Bette Davis) who will stop at nothing to gain control of the family business - including sacrificing the health of her sick husband and alienating her naive younger daughter (Teresa Wright). In fact, much of the drama in the film stems from the fact that the daughter slowly begins to realize what is going on in her home and moves from a meekly submissive girl to a more assertive and aware young woman.
Anyhow, this film is by far the best adaptation of the original play and is very interesting. Although the topic has somewhat mellowed with age, the acting, meticulous direction (by William Wyler, who collaborated with Davis twice and drew remarkable performances from her each time), and cinematography make The Little Foxes continue to shine even after all these years.
Movie Review: GRAND
Summary: 5 Stars
Bette Davis, what more can be said, a true classic, nasty, devious, cunning, she does it all with Davis style.Movie Review: A great film!
Summary: 5 Stars
Teresa Wright plays a southern girl who's around 20. Bette Davis plays a superb role as a greedy mother with greedy brothers. William Wyler is at his best as he directs this great film. Herbert Marshall, at his best, maybe his best movie plays the nice, loving father. Gregg Toland does the cinematography perfectly. Anyone would enjoy this film.Movie Review: ...Will Make You Sick!
Summary: 5 Stars
Bette Davis wants nothing more than to be rich and happy only problem is she is already wealthy and unhappy! Along with her tow cunning and vile brothers the plan is hatched to not only con each other but to con themselves into thinking they respect what they see in the mirror! Davis in her heavily powdered face, gothic clothes and sharp cutting eyes leave an impression on your brain for years! But the film is so telling of the human spirit. For not only does Davis want to be more rich - she has to stampede over her disabled husband (played to perfection by Herbert Marshall)to do so. But the road to redemption is always up for the taking but none of the characters even points their emotional compass in that direction. The brunch scene between Davis' husband, their long suffering daughter, aunt Birdie,along with the family made will make you sullen for their lack of nascent! The ultimate scene involves Bette Davis' infamous eyes, pills, her husband and a staircase not only does the camera stay on her frozen face but something lies deep uder her eyes is it redempion or sollar signs! Brilliant! The ultimate horror flick for adults!Movie Review: BETTE DAVIS IS STELLAR...
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie revolves around the greed of a trio of siblings, Regina, Ben, and Oscar, circa 1900 in the South. Regina wants in on a business venture with her conniving brothers, but needs the money, a great deal of money, from her ailing and estranged husband, Horace, in order to get it on the deal.There is clearly no love lost between Regina and Horace, who have a rather naive, grown daughter, Alexandra, who is definitely daddy's little girl. Ben is single, and Oscar is married to Birdie, a woman whom he married soley for her family's position in Southern society, and who well into her marriage shows all the earmarks of a person who is unloved, unwanted, and despised. She has been driven to drink. Oscar and Birdie have a grown son named Leo, so craven and despicable that even his own mother cannot abide him.
The movie shows the state of the relationships among the family members and the level to which the siblings go in trying to get the business deal going. They will stop at nothing in order to achieve their goal. They will lie, cheat, steal, and yes, even, kill, if it is necessary to attain their immediate goal. They will even try to best each other in the making of the deal. Their greed knows no bounds.
Bette Davis is magnificent as the greedy Regina, who is obsessed with getting the money she needs, and cares not a whit whom she sacrifices in her efforts to get that money. Her performance is controlled and remarkable, as she makes her implacable will clear to all those with whom she comes in contact. She does, however, almost have the film stolen from her by the outstanding performance by Carl Benton Reid, who plays her shrewd and conniving brother, Ben, as well as by Patricia Collinge, who plays the role of the hapless and alcoholic Birdie. She plays Birdie with such sensitivity and pathos that she breaks your heart. Birdie's role in the family is clearly spelled out in the dinner scene with the siblings' erstwhile business partner, as well as in the scene where the siblings toast to their own success and pointedly refrain from including her.
Teresa Wright and Dan Duryea each give credible performances as the grown children, who are each used as pawns by their respective parents in their efforts to lock in on the business deal they each so desire. Regina uses her daughter, Alexandra, to lure her sickly husband back home, so she can nag him to death about the money she needs for her business venture. Oscar uses his son, Leo, to steal money from Horace's safety deposit box, located in the bank in which Leo works, to ensure that the deal will go through. Herbert Marshall is excellent as the Regina's husband, a true southern gentleman, who believes in honor and fair play and resists Regina's attempts to ensnare him in her siblings' questionable scheme.
The film is based upon Lillian Hellman's play, and Ms. Hellman herself wrote the screenplay, which is brilliant. The dialogue is wonderful, crisp, sharp, and biting. Film great, William Wyler, directed this unforgettable film, which garnered nine Academy Award nominations in 1941. The film is a must see movie for every Bette Davis fan and for lovers of great, classic films.