Unfortunately, that was before much of this happened. James Stewart tries to toughen up his post-war reputation that required westerns and sports and military bio pics to give a new perspective on his all American image. He's a convicted murderer on a chain gang who eventually gains the support of warden Wendell Corey, becoming a trustee and investing a lighter rifle perfect for military use. Jean Hagen speaks in a regular voice after destroying "round tones" in "Singin' in the Rain", playing the wife who refuses to divorce him when he's convicted, and continues to write to him to keep his spirits up when he's at his all time low.
While this takes a decade to unfold, I didn't notice any aging in either Stewart or Hagen outside a whisp of white hair appearing. Stewart is a good actor, but there's never any doubt that he's acting. I also found the pacing slowly somber, and there's never any real element of surprise. A "John Nesbitt's Passing Parade" could have covered Williams' ordeal in 20 minutes.
While this takes a decade to unfold, I didn't notice any aging in either Stewart or Hagen outside a whisp of white hair appearing. Stewart is a good actor, but there's never any doubt that he's acting. I also found the pacing slowly somber, and there's never any real element of surprise. A "John Nesbitt's Passing Parade" could have covered Williams' ordeal in 20 minutes.