A critical and commercial flop when first released, I've always thought "In This Our Life" (***1/2 out of ****) one of the most daring and powerful melodramas to come out of a major Hollywood studio in the 40's. In his autobiography director, John Huston commented: "There is something elemental about Bette (Davis)-a demon within her which threatens to break out and eat everybody, beginning with their ears-I let the demon go." This famously volatile actress is at her gutsy best as a headstrong vixen who steals her sister's husband and drives him to suicide. She then attempts to steal her sister's new betrothed out of jealousy and then goes on to try to pin a hit and run accident on an innocent black youth. Amazingly, Davis manages to evoke a weird kind of sympathy for this anti-heroine (a special talent of hers). This picture was ahead of its time in several respects. It was one of the first to portray a young black man who was intelligent and ambitious, rather than in the usual servile role. Davis and Charles Coburn as her lecherous old uncle achieve a wickedly funny rapport in their scenes together that dare to suggest an incestuous attraction, at least on his side. Olivia De Havilland manages to give the role of Davis' put-upon older sister a great deal of dignity and backbone. She excelled at giving substance to "good woman" roles. (Oddly enough, the sisters are named "Stanley" and "Roy" in the script.) This speedily-paced film runs for 98 minutes and every one of them is packed with interest and excitement. As if this weren't enough, there is one of Max Steiner's most sophisticated and highly charged scores to drive it all along. Highly recommended.
Review of In This Our Life
