Before Gregory Peck played heroes in movies about American integrity, he took a few villainous, or at least troubled, roles. In The Great Sinner, Greg plays a compulsive gambler, and he gives a wonderful performance.
At first, he's just a writer who wants to write about the incredible sickness of gambling, but before long, he finds out firsthand how the sickness can take over a man's life. What I love most about this movie is the realism of the script and performances. I've heard this movie compared to The Lost Weekend, a movie about alcoholism, but I found The Great Sinner to be much more realistic in its portrayal of addiction. Greg's performance is fantastic, and it's great to see the contrast of how he was before he started gambling. As the movie continues, he becomes desperate, cruel, and self-loathing. Many times Hollywood shows the glitz and glamour associated with gambling, but since this is a period piece, there's no neon lights or Las Vegas strip. It's in black-and-white, it's dirty without being filthy, it warns without becoming melodramatic, and it's heart-wrenching.
Greg is flanked by an all-star supporting cast, including Melvyn Douglas, Ethel Barrymore, Frank Morgan, Agnes Moorehead, Walter Huston, and his favorite leading lady Ava Gardner. I don't usually like Ava Gardner, but this movie is an exception. She actually looks beautiful in this movie, with gorgeous hairstyles and gowns, and she's very believable as a tormented heroinne who loves Greg but feels trapped by Mel's money and power. Mel is a convincing villain, so if you're not used to seeing him as the bad guy, get ready for a shock. He can be quite awful when he wants to be. Frank Morgan has a very brief part, but it's quite sad. In real life, he died from alcoholism, and in this movie he shows Greg a negative example of what can happen when your life becomes ruled by an addiction. Check this one out if you've never seen it. If I can recommend it so highly, it's got to be good!
At first, he's just a writer who wants to write about the incredible sickness of gambling, but before long, he finds out firsthand how the sickness can take over a man's life. What I love most about this movie is the realism of the script and performances. I've heard this movie compared to The Lost Weekend, a movie about alcoholism, but I found The Great Sinner to be much more realistic in its portrayal of addiction. Greg's performance is fantastic, and it's great to see the contrast of how he was before he started gambling. As the movie continues, he becomes desperate, cruel, and self-loathing. Many times Hollywood shows the glitz and glamour associated with gambling, but since this is a period piece, there's no neon lights or Las Vegas strip. It's in black-and-white, it's dirty without being filthy, it warns without becoming melodramatic, and it's heart-wrenching.
Greg is flanked by an all-star supporting cast, including Melvyn Douglas, Ethel Barrymore, Frank Morgan, Agnes Moorehead, Walter Huston, and his favorite leading lady Ava Gardner. I don't usually like Ava Gardner, but this movie is an exception. She actually looks beautiful in this movie, with gorgeous hairstyles and gowns, and she's very believable as a tormented heroinne who loves Greg but feels trapped by Mel's money and power. Mel is a convincing villain, so if you're not used to seeing him as the bad guy, get ready for a shock. He can be quite awful when he wants to be. Frank Morgan has a very brief part, but it's quite sad. In real life, he died from alcoholism, and in this movie he shows Greg a negative example of what can happen when your life becomes ruled by an addiction. Check this one out if you've never seen it. If I can recommend it so highly, it's got to be good!