NO MINOR VICES
US, 1948, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Dana Andrews, Lilli Palmer, Louis Jordan, Jane Wyatt, Norman Lloyd.
Directed by Lewis Milestone.
No Minor Vices is screwball comedy material - but, instead of the fast light '30s approach, it has the more sedate and somewhat dour approach of the '40s.
The film was directed by Lewis Milestone, veteran director of many films including such war classics as All Quiet on the Western Front and A Walk in the Sun. He is not so adept at light comedy.
Dana Andrews does his best, though he is a more serious-roled actor. Lilli Palmer is very attractive in one of her earliest roles in Hollywood. It is also an early Hollywood role for Louis Jourdan, who acts as the rather petulant and capricious little boy wealthy artist who is the catalyst for the relationship between Dana Andrews and Lilli Palmer. The supporting cast includes Jane Wyatt and Norman Foster.
1. Pleasant '40s comedy? Romantic comedy?
2. Black and white photography, New York settings, the home, the studio, the medical centre? Musical score?
3. The title - to what and to whom did it refer?
4. Perry as a skilled doctor, child psychologist, advice to parents and to children? Curiosity about Ottavio, looking at his paintings, speaking his mind, Ottavio's reaction? His suggesting that he paint real people? Back at the clinic, relationship with Miss Darlington, with the receptionist? Allowing Ottavio to observe and to draw? His dealing with the patients, with his assistant doctor, with Miss Darlington and taking the vitamins? The irony that April was his wife? Going upstairs and finding Ottavio and April, talking with Ottavio, punching him? Ottavio sowing seeds of doubt in his mind about April? The thwarted meal, the lobsters? Ottavio playing the piano? April and Perry sparring in the evening, the footstool, the lobsters? Daring Ottavio to paint his wife? The frustrations, not going to the country? His thinking aloud, kissing Miss Darlington, seeing his assistant repeat all his words? Going for a walk, confronting Ottavio and April? Looking at the painting? Seeing a daughter there? The happy reunion? The confrontation by Miss Darlington and his assistant? The reconciliation?
5. April, attractive wife, receptionist, cooking the meal, the light touch with Ottavio, the lobsters? The meal, laughing, the clash in the evening, the footstool? Breakfast and proposing that Perry go the country? Taken by Ottavio's words, the knife, declarations of love? Posing for him? Wondering aloud what was happening? The reconciliation?
6. Ottavio, spoilt child, childish in his manner? Histrionic? Weeping at the piano, painting? His reaction to Perry's interventions, explanation of his treatment of his mother? Going to observe, drawing the cartoons, eavesdropping? Suspicious about April, the talk about the meal, the piano? His declarations of love, suggesting suicide? Painting April, painting his own child? His saying he had no feelings? The pain of separation and discovering his feelings? Returning the knife? The charm and style and flamboyance?
7. Miss Darlington, doting on Perry, giving him his vitamins, the attraction to the assistant doctor? The assistant, watching every word with Perry, repeating his words? Miss Darlington and the kiss, fainting? The decision to stand up to Perry, finding each other?
8. The cab driver and his ironic looks, the little man across the window and his observation of everything going on?
9. The dramatic device of having the characters think aloud - the humour, counterpoint to what they did?
10. Comedy of manners, romantic comedy - '40s style?
