Whether it's through the smoke filled rooms of a Broadway Theater or through the misty-eyed flashback memories of an insecure actor, the sight revealed in 'The Country Girl' is one of three people who share three very different and desperate needs.
Bernie Dodd (William Holden) needs to find a last minute replacement lead actor for a play. He wants Frank Elgin (Bing Crosby) for the part. Unfortunately Frank may not be up to the part, he hasn't been able to hold an acting job for some time since becoming a closet alcoholic. Against the strong wishes of his own producer, Dodd petitions hard for Elgin thinking him a perfect fit for the play.
Frank needs something, anything to take his mind off of the guilt he's felt since the accidental death of his son. Through years of guilt Frank has become unreliable, insecure and a risk in the Broadway circuit. Frank is looking for a small job, baby steps if you will, for his road to recovery.
Georgie Elgin (Grace Kelly) needs Frank to be able to respect himself again, to not blame himself for the death of their son. She needs Frank to get out of the apartment and to get a job. Since the death of their child, Georgie too has lived through a difficult transformation; she's changed herself from a beautiful 25-year-old doting mother into an unrecognizable old maid. Georgie needs other things as well, but all of that comes out towards the end of the film.
At times 'The Country Girl' falls into lapses of musical boredom (the exception being a musical number with Jacqueline Fontaine as the lounge singer), but never for very long. Most of the film centers around the three leads lying or yelling at each other, trying to give the appearance of being in control, giving ultimatums to one another. By having Holden and Kelly in the cast, the film can't help but have a strong sexual tension brimming over. Though the two characters do their best to ignore it, the sexual tension that builds up between Bernie and Georgie isn't as well hidden as Frank hiding his cough syrup.
'The Country Girl' showcases three great performances by its leads. Crosby is at times especially good. For my money, Kelly is better in Rear Window, but she's pretty damn good here, especially after her kiss with Holden.
Can Frank make good on Bernie's trust in his abilities and not succumb to the temptation of his own self loathing? Can Bernie make his belief in Frank payoff by keeping Frank from falling off the wagon? Want does Georgie really want?
How can you not like a movie where people get put to the test, come out to ultimately do the right thing?
Bernie Dodd (William Holden) needs to find a last minute replacement lead actor for a play. He wants Frank Elgin (Bing Crosby) for the part. Unfortunately Frank may not be up to the part, he hasn't been able to hold an acting job for some time since becoming a closet alcoholic. Against the strong wishes of his own producer, Dodd petitions hard for Elgin thinking him a perfect fit for the play.
Frank needs something, anything to take his mind off of the guilt he's felt since the accidental death of his son. Through years of guilt Frank has become unreliable, insecure and a risk in the Broadway circuit. Frank is looking for a small job, baby steps if you will, for his road to recovery.
Georgie Elgin (Grace Kelly) needs Frank to be able to respect himself again, to not blame himself for the death of their son. She needs Frank to get out of the apartment and to get a job. Since the death of their child, Georgie too has lived through a difficult transformation; she's changed herself from a beautiful 25-year-old doting mother into an unrecognizable old maid. Georgie needs other things as well, but all of that comes out towards the end of the film.
At times 'The Country Girl' falls into lapses of musical boredom (the exception being a musical number with Jacqueline Fontaine as the lounge singer), but never for very long. Most of the film centers around the three leads lying or yelling at each other, trying to give the appearance of being in control, giving ultimatums to one another. By having Holden and Kelly in the cast, the film can't help but have a strong sexual tension brimming over. Though the two characters do their best to ignore it, the sexual tension that builds up between Bernie and Georgie isn't as well hidden as Frank hiding his cough syrup.
'The Country Girl' showcases three great performances by its leads. Crosby is at times especially good. For my money, Kelly is better in Rear Window, but she's pretty damn good here, especially after her kiss with Holden.
Can Frank make good on Bernie's trust in his abilities and not succumb to the temptation of his own self loathing? Can Bernie make his belief in Frank payoff by keeping Frank from falling off the wagon? Want does Georgie really want?
How can you not like a movie where people get put to the test, come out to ultimately do the right thing?