Producer: Armand Deutsch. Copyright 14 April 1952 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at the Capitol: 7 May 1952. U.S. release: May 1952. Australian release: 30 July 1952. 92 minutes. Cut to 8,073 feet in the U.K.
SYNOPSIS: A true story about David Marshall Williams who developed the carbine rifle while serving a thirty-year prison term in North Carolina. — Copyright summary.
COMMENT: Although it was none too successful on first release, "Carbine Williams" was formerly a frequent player on TV. It was one of the first of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer black-and-white library to be "colorized". But now, of course, following the public outcry against colorization, it is not broadcast at all.
For all this fuss, "Carbine Williams" offers no more than medium- range entertainment — except of course for dyed-in-the-wool Jimmy Stewart fans. The script offers little in the way of action but plenty of emotive moments for good old Jim. Indeed, patrons expecting the usual high-charged thrills of the typical prison picture, are going to feel rather short-changed.
Despite her star billing, Jean "Singin' in the Rain" Hagen has a paltry role. And whilst it's true we see a lot of Wendell Corey, it's a rather thankless part that offers the glum actor few opportunities to shine.
Thorpe's direction is competent enough, production credits are okay. The budget rates as just passable "A".
OTHER VIEWS: Stewart's most negligible film of the fifties — the only serious career mistake he made amid a stream of remarkably fine pictures — Carbine Williams doesn't fit Stewart's image or personality at all. — Allen Eyles in "James Stewart".
P.S. Your dead right, Allen, but would you believe Jimmy Stewart positively sought this role? Finally, he told Louis B. Mayer that he'd do it for half his usual fee. How could Mayer resist such an offer? If I was in Mayer's shoes, I would have done the same!
SYNOPSIS: A true story about David Marshall Williams who developed the carbine rifle while serving a thirty-year prison term in North Carolina. — Copyright summary.
COMMENT: Although it was none too successful on first release, "Carbine Williams" was formerly a frequent player on TV. It was one of the first of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer black-and-white library to be "colorized". But now, of course, following the public outcry against colorization, it is not broadcast at all.
For all this fuss, "Carbine Williams" offers no more than medium- range entertainment — except of course for dyed-in-the-wool Jimmy Stewart fans. The script offers little in the way of action but plenty of emotive moments for good old Jim. Indeed, patrons expecting the usual high-charged thrills of the typical prison picture, are going to feel rather short-changed.
Despite her star billing, Jean "Singin' in the Rain" Hagen has a paltry role. And whilst it's true we see a lot of Wendell Corey, it's a rather thankless part that offers the glum actor few opportunities to shine.
Thorpe's direction is competent enough, production credits are okay. The budget rates as just passable "A".
OTHER VIEWS: Stewart's most negligible film of the fifties — the only serious career mistake he made amid a stream of remarkably fine pictures — Carbine Williams doesn't fit Stewart's image or personality at all. — Allen Eyles in "James Stewart".
P.S. Your dead right, Allen, but would you believe Jimmy Stewart positively sought this role? Finally, he told Louis B. Mayer that he'd do it for half his usual fee. How could Mayer resist such an offer? If I was in Mayer's shoes, I would have done the same!