The Little Foxes
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Movie Reviews of The Little Foxes
Movie Review: Intoxicating
Summary: 4 Stars
Bette Davis could kill anybody onscreen, step on anyone.When she appeared you couldn't turn your eyes away. And that's exactly what happens in "The Little foxes", her third and final collaboration with director William Wyler, the only director who knew how to direct properly Bette Davis. What's good about this film is the way the hatred of this woman is shown or characterized. She is not necessarily evil, she just needs to throw out her frustration towards her husband. She is a greedy woman, a selfish one and an unconscious one. That's what's interesting about this film to follow her process through her need to kill her husband. And when it happens it is one of the best directed scenes in movie history. Wait until you see....Movie Review: POSSIBLY DAVIS'S FINEST HOUR!
Summary: 5 Stars
In a magnificent showcase for her undeniable talent, Davis gives a fascinating portrayal of Regina Giddons, the selfish, greedy wife of weak-hearted (literally) Horace Giddons (Herbert Marshall). Many of the supporting players revised the roles they originated in the famed stage play which opened on Broadway in 1939 (Regina was brilliantly played by the legendary Tallulah Bankhead). Carl Benton Reid is great as Regina's conninving brother with whom she and Charles Dingle are in cahoots. Reid is most effective when he tells Davis "Since when do I take orders from YOU, Regina?". Dan Duryea is purposely unlikeable as Leo the crumb, while Teresa Wright, in her film debut, is suitably prim and naive (although she wisens up considerably towards the end) as Alexandra --Regina (her mother) remarks at one point: "why, Alexandra, I used to think you were all sugar-water!". I think Patricia Collinge's portrait of Birdie is perhaps the greatest feat of acting in the entire film; her playing is heart-breakingly sincere and she never strikes a false note as the unloved alcoholic flibbertigibbet who admits she doesn't like her own son, Leo. Director Wyler and star Davis fought bitterly over the correct interpretation of Regina; in retrospect, Bette gave a performance which made the critics sit up and stare: definitely one of her best and most underrated portrayals in a brilliant film career which spanned 50 years. This movie is still one the greatest examples of a great play being successfully transferred into a great film. Highly Recommended.Movie Review: MONEY MONEY MONEY...
Summary: 4 Stars
At least one scene of LITTLE FOXES is part of movie history : The final scene between Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall. You have to see it to understand why Bette Davis was so admired in the 1930-1950 period. Evil in all its splendor ; without make-up, special effects and oppressive musical score.LITTLE FOXES is what one can call a "classic" movie directed by William Wyler, a director whose films collect an impressive amount of Oscars during 25 years.
Classic does not always mean boring. You will certainly appreciate a movie with clever dialogs, convincing actors and a story mixing particuliar family problems with general economic questions.
I would have liked a little more madness in the treatment of the subject but you can't always have all you desire, can you ?
A DVD for Bette Davis fan or future fan.
Movie Review: One of Bette's Best Bad-Girls
Summary: 5 Stars
Thank heaven Warners was giving Bette such a hard time during the early 40's, or else she might never have left and made this gem with her ex-lover William Wyler. Reportedly the two were at one another's throats quite a lot during the making of this film, but as is the case more often than not, adversity yields a terrific product, and this film is no exception. The film centers on two families, the Giddens and the Hubbards, and the attempt by the Hubbard brothers to involve their strong willed sister Regina her husband in a scheme that will make them rich at the expense of the town. Regina, played by Bette, is all for it, but unfortunately her ailing husband, Horace (played by Herbert Marshall), whom Regina brings home from the hospital only to gouge for money , wants no part of their plan. Bette shows her talent and range by portraying a bad girl and yet still being able to keep her top-star status in Hollywood (that same year, the studios balked at the idea of Cary Grant playing a bad guy in "Suspicion"). Teresa Wright is outstanding as Regina's daughter Alexandra, who sees what is going on and, as the movie progresses, gathers the courage to stand up and fight for what is right. Patricia Collinge plays the wife of Oscar Hubbard, Birdie (the role she originated on Broadway), a tragic character too afraid to fight against the evil she sees, yet also afraid to be a part of it (which is why she drowns her sorrows in wine). Another point about the movie . .it has additional dialogue added by none other than the champion of one-liners, Dorothy Parker. All this and a terrific message to boot (it seems to advocate political activism - the ones who sit idly by and do nothing while ruthless characters "eat the world," as the film says, are more guilty than the actual miscreants). Highly recommended.Movie Review: "Why Regina, how GREEDY you have become!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Bette Davis gives a brilliant portrayal of the selfish, grasping, heartless Regina. The scene where her husband is dying while she looks impassively ahead is absolutely chilling. This is a first-rate telling of the award winning stage play by Lillian Hellmann.