Along with the James Stewart film, made at the same time, "Magic Town," "Good Sam" belongs to a sub-genre of movies that should be known as "Frank Capra films without the vaunted 'Capra touch.'"
I hadn't seen "Good Sam" in several decades. I remembered it as leaden, tedious and unimaginative, utterly devoid of the humor, whimsy and social commentary that became the hallmark of Frank Capra's films, which this can only have aspired to being. After viewing it again I now have to add that it should have been a profound embarrassment to everyone associated with it.
The film's full of talented actors, its director was responsible for wonderful films ranging from "Duck Soup," to "Going My Way" to "An Affair to Remember," but I have seldom seen a film made by skilled, accomplished people that hits so many wrong notes.
I hadn't seen "Good Sam" in several decades. I remembered it as leaden, tedious and unimaginative, utterly devoid of the humor, whimsy and social commentary that became the hallmark of Frank Capra's films, which this can only have aspired to being. After viewing it again I now have to add that it should have been a profound embarrassment to everyone associated with it.
The film's full of talented actors, its director was responsible for wonderful films ranging from "Duck Soup," to "Going My Way" to "An Affair to Remember," but I have seldom seen a film made by skilled, accomplished people that hits so many wrong notes.