'The Unfaithful' is a loose version of the classic 'The Letter', the story of that film re-arranged yet the basics are still intact. It is not near as good as that film, but it is hard to be as good or equal to it because 'The Letter' is so brilliant and a high point for both direction William Wyler (one of the greats when it came to directors) and star Bette Davis at her most chilling.
Anyway though, anything that has reliable director Vincent Sherman and has talent like Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden and Lew Ayres in the cast together in the same film (when all have given fine performances in other films individually elsewhere) has to be well worth the effort. The same goes with having Max Steiner, with a compositional style that in my mind one recognises from anywhere and a major founder of film music, as composer. Have always loved a lot of his work, with the main theme of his score for 'Gone With the Wind' being one of the most timeless ones in cinema. 'The Unfaithful' may not be in the same leage as 'The Letter', but it is nonetheless highly respectable, is a good film on its own and is far from a disgrace.
Will start with what doesn't quite work. Do agree with those that say that 'The Unfaithful' is too long, would have trimmed about 10-15 minutes myself, a prime example being the epilogue/ending, which already like one scene too far when the previous scene would have been an ideal place to stop.
It is a little too heavy on the talk which at times does bog the pace down, the script for 'The Letter' is much tighter. Though the actual dialogue itself really provokes thought. Am also another person that found the unexplained coming and going of some characters a distraction.
However, 'The Unfaithful' does look good. Especially the moody photography. Max Steiner's score stirs, swells, soars and haunts in all the right places and is superbly orchestrated too without being overwrought or intrusive. Sherman directs more than reliably and at a controlled pace that suits the material dead-on. The script is thought-provoking, the tension and emotion factors are high, the story absorbs and true in spirit on the whole to 'The Letter' and the lead character of Chris is remarkably nuanced.
Ann Sheridan is excellent as Chris, the intensity and poignancy of her performance really grips and she brings nuances to a character that many would find hard to do. Zachary Scott, as has been noted, is in an atypical role in that it is a more sympathetic one rather than his usual formidable villains, but he shows no signs of being out of his depth at all, the role suits him actually. A waspish Eve Arden is on sparkling form, she is always a pleasure to watch and was always a bright spot in lesser films and she steals every scene she's in. Lew Ayres does a good job too, if not as interesting though that is down to that the other three have more interesting and more demanding characters to play.
Concluding, good film with many fine elements. With a little trimming and a little tightening it would have been even better. 7/10
Anyway though, anything that has reliable director Vincent Sherman and has talent like Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden and Lew Ayres in the cast together in the same film (when all have given fine performances in other films individually elsewhere) has to be well worth the effort. The same goes with having Max Steiner, with a compositional style that in my mind one recognises from anywhere and a major founder of film music, as composer. Have always loved a lot of his work, with the main theme of his score for 'Gone With the Wind' being one of the most timeless ones in cinema. 'The Unfaithful' may not be in the same leage as 'The Letter', but it is nonetheless highly respectable, is a good film on its own and is far from a disgrace.
Will start with what doesn't quite work. Do agree with those that say that 'The Unfaithful' is too long, would have trimmed about 10-15 minutes myself, a prime example being the epilogue/ending, which already like one scene too far when the previous scene would have been an ideal place to stop.
It is a little too heavy on the talk which at times does bog the pace down, the script for 'The Letter' is much tighter. Though the actual dialogue itself really provokes thought. Am also another person that found the unexplained coming and going of some characters a distraction.
However, 'The Unfaithful' does look good. Especially the moody photography. Max Steiner's score stirs, swells, soars and haunts in all the right places and is superbly orchestrated too without being overwrought or intrusive. Sherman directs more than reliably and at a controlled pace that suits the material dead-on. The script is thought-provoking, the tension and emotion factors are high, the story absorbs and true in spirit on the whole to 'The Letter' and the lead character of Chris is remarkably nuanced.
Ann Sheridan is excellent as Chris, the intensity and poignancy of her performance really grips and she brings nuances to a character that many would find hard to do. Zachary Scott, as has been noted, is in an atypical role in that it is a more sympathetic one rather than his usual formidable villains, but he shows no signs of being out of his depth at all, the role suits him actually. A waspish Eve Arden is on sparkling form, she is always a pleasure to watch and was always a bright spot in lesser films and she steals every scene she's in. Lew Ayres does a good job too, if not as interesting though that is down to that the other three have more interesting and more demanding characters to play.
Concluding, good film with many fine elements. With a little trimming and a little tightening it would have been even better. 7/10