All of the hallmarks which made Crawford a legendary star are present in this tormented romance. She plays a poor factory worker whose only respite from the heat and stench of her tenement existence is found in the arms of fast-talking Curtis. Eager to escape the dregs of her life with her deadbeat father, put-upon mother and smart-aleck punk of a younger brother, she convinces Curtis to marry her. On their wedding day, while dining in the same restaurant as self-made millionaire Tracy, the wheels of her fate are slowly set in motion. Eventually, she finds herself attached to shady, unreliable Curtis while being pursued by caring, bountifully wealthy Tracy. Midway through the story, in order to achieve some independence of her own, she takes on the title job of a fashion model, allowing famed designer Adrian to deck her out in several splashy get-ups. Then just when she seems to have found some measure of happiness, it all threatens to come crashing down around her. In what was a sort of formula for Crawford (portraying financially oppressed females who eventually become wealthy), she does a fine job here. The strappy heels, the tear-filled eyes, the dark dresses with white collars, the face slaps, the shoulder pads, the unusual hats.... all are on display for her fans. However, she made a point to keep her acting as grounded as she could in order to match her one-time-only co-star Tracy. (She also maintains top billing, which Hepburn could not do a few years later.) Tracy is amiable and interesting to watch. Together, they establish an easy chemistry and a couple to root for. Curtis is appropriately slick and slimy. Philips (soon to be divorced in real life from Humphrey Bogart) plays a wise-cracking floozie pal of Crawford's. Gorcey, as Crawford's mouthy brother, provides some amusing moments. Risdon, as her beaten down mother, is excellent. Not exactly an important film, per se, but an enjoyable one. One rather awkward moment has Crawford (presumably lip-synching to an alto voice double) warbling the Oscar-nominated song to Curtis while they're dancing with her lips pressed up against his cheek! There's a fashion show with several hooty Adrian concoctions that also includes a mildly suggestive gag between Crawford and Tracy. Some of Adrian's suits are way over the top (one with huge rivets in it and one with some ornate detailing all over it as well as a Margaret Hamilton witch hat with a rhinestone star on the top!), but that's the fantasy that audiences wanted to see in those dire times. The title ultimately has little to do with the story. An unspectacular, but also unembarrassing entry in the stars' careers.
Review of Mannequin
