A Man Betrayed

source: A Man Betrayed

A Man Betrayed

An American drama; A story about a country lawyer who courts the daughter of a city politician who he is investigating for corruption. This film attempts crime mystery and screwball comedy but fails to hit the mark on both subgenres because it is short on action and brims over with dialogue. John Wayne makes appeal but he is less than convincing as a small town attorney with small town charm. That said, his scenes with Francis Dee are entertaining. The film has good pace but the story doesn't seem to click together because of its artifice. Even the action scenes fail to produce tension because of the trace of comedy.

I enjoyed watching this movie, but there is no use pretending that it has any particular merit. It is interesting to watch early John Wayne movies where he is not playing a cowboy and not fiddling with his revolver. The female lead, Frances Dee, was very interesting to watch, lively and attractive. She reminds me of Geena Davis when young as in EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY (1988, see my review). She stopped acting in 1954, aged 55, and had made 56 films by then. The story of this film is so unconvincing and implausible that it is not even worthwhile attempting to describe it. It is nonsense from beginning to end. The Hungarian émigré director John H. Auer directed the film. It is both easy to watch and easy to forget.

In 1941 Republic Pictures goes out on a limb to broaden the range of its biggest commodity, John Wayne. A weak experienced lawyer, Lynn Hollister(Wayne) will attempt to take on big-city crime and corruption. Tom Cameron(Edward Ellis) is a highly successful political figure, but is suspected of being a heavy handed crook. Of course, seemingly above any overt suspicion, Hollister's job is not going to be an easy one. Making things a bit harder, Lynn finds himself with a strong attraction to Cameron's lovely daughter, Sabra(Frances Dee). Audiences weren't immediately thrilled, but the saving grace is the Duke does get the chance to put his dukes up! A strong, well rounded cast also features: Wallace Ford, Harold Huber, Edwin Stanley and Ward Bond.

One wonders how the script came to be written. Wayne and the other performers do an OK job but as it is neither comedy, romantic thriller or anything else it is all rather disappointing. One feels as if one of the threads had been pursued it could have been something worthwhile. It is nonetheless interesting to see a real turkey of a story made just before the USA became directly involved with the war. I wonder if the surrounding politics had something to do with trying to make a movie for all tastes but ending up with something that pleases no one. Nonetheless it has historical value.

John Wayne has the ability to shine through even the poorest of scripts. Its an interesting story where the Duke has to deal with his morals and conscience when moving to a corrupt city and falls in love with a dirty politicians daughter. Francis Dee and Wayne have good on screen chemistry but this can be seen as the strength of Waynes acting rather Dees performance. The show has the classic 40s slapstick comic relief. If you want to sit with some Wayne nostalgia then you will enjoy this movie. But if your looking for an exciting story with a well written script and good acting, then don't rush to this movie. It not a classic of the 40s, but its a classic example of 40s movies :-)

Going out for the day and seeing the BBC had a John Wayne movie on for the afternoon I left and set the tape running. Later I started to watch it expecting a western, I was disappointed at first and then pleasantly surprised. I have seen very few John Wayne movies that were not westerns and not always good but this I enjoyed. Good storyline and a plot which was well thought out. This is the first time I have seen Frances Dee and she was very convincing in her conflict of emotions in loyalty to her father and love for the "Duke". Edward Ellis was wooden but he was old school so I could put up with that. Ward Bond was unnerving in his role as the simple-minded killer henchman. I shall keep the tape and look for more Frances Dee movies, a good actress easy on the eye - and married for 57 years to the same man - respect!!