Back Street
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VHS Movie Reviews of Back Street
Movie Review: A chick flick for chicks with strange and unstable values
Summary: 1 Stars
John Gavin, the hero of this first-class comedy, wasn't really a hero but a a cad with about as much talent, romance, and emotion as a life-sized cardboard standup, like the ones you can get of Darth Vader or Captain Kirk. Susan Hayward can act better than this. Not a favourite actress of mine by any means, she DID have some talent. Her role as Hester in "Adam Had Four Sons" was very well done, despite the fact that Hester was a horrible woman. Here as Rae Smythe she appears to be a fallen star. She aged fifteen years in fifteen minutes. Was it the agony of losing her cardboard lover, or was it merely the fault of an overambitious hairdresser? She is overdressed (and not even WELL overdressed), oversappy, overhokey. Susan had a crazy pad wherever she went, beautifully decorated and landscaped. Very convenient.
Vera Miles was much better - in fact I very much enjoyed her work - in "The Wrong Man" and "Psycho". How she wound up playing a drunken wife is beyond me, but it wasn't exactly flattering to her or a good showcase for her skill.
And the story, what a story! Cheap, shallow, overly melodramatic, clearly arranged to set up the audience at certain moments for a hokey moment by wave upon wave of weepy violins. Everywhere she went, her cardboard man happened to be, whether it be New York, Rome, or the steps of a bar over the cardboard guy's drunken wife. I think both Susan and John deserved everything bad that happened to them. The whole movie left me spent with exhaustion and a sort of disgusted feeling that I'd been gypped out of a whole evening when I could have been watching something really good, like a Fredric March movie.
Oh yes, and I mustn't forget to mention the shots of crashing waves, blossoming trees, fruit-laden trees, snowy landscapes, and the sound of Hollywood-ised excuses French and Italian music. All of these amazing things melded with the above-mentioned faults and failings caused me to come up with only one result. This is a true 1-star movie... VERY VERY POOR! I do not recommend this to anyone even as comic amusement. It's far too aggravating even for that.
Movie Review: Another 5 Star Hanky movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This is another great, wonderful, tearful, romantic, tragic love story and is great to watch on a rainy afternoon. Sure it's campy but it's also acting at it's peak by Susan. As far as i'm concerned she never looked better than she does in this film. But if your into tearjerker movies get those "hankies" ready. You'll sob! ...and this is coming from a guys point of view. This is right up there with "Imitation of Life." Boy,,,,they don't make them like this anymore. Just wish it was in DVD and theatre format.Movie Review: Terry Asheville
Summary: 4 Stars
Who can replace Susan Hayward an underrated legend in her time who could play any character with conviction and ease. She even rose above some pretty rotten material. This the 3rd entry does not follow the original book at all by Fannie Hurst. It has been upadated and glamorized and tailor made for it's wonderful star Susan Hayward. John Gavin makes nice decoration to the movie like good wallpaper or a Picasso and Vera Niles almost steals the movie (but doesn't)from the great Hayward in a heart touching tearjerker that is top notch.Movie Review: A Beautiful and Brilliant Actress
Summary: 5 Stars
Susan Hayward blessed us with so many great film performmances:"I'd Climb the Highest Mountain", "With a Song in My Heart",
"David and Bathsheba", "I'll Cry Tomorrow"...
"Back Street" gives us another dizzying performance by a red head
many of us fell in love with before Lucy (not that I think they
are comparable). The story may be a 3 hanky affair; but just to
see Susan Hayward is a joy that will never grow old. She gives
a brilliant performance. Also, Vera Miles gives a very poised
unsympathetic performance as the wronged wife.
Susan, You were one of my first screen loves and I'll never
forget you and your movies.
Movie Review: "Save the wishbone for me."
Summary: 5 Stars
When Miss Susan Hayward, bl inking through tear-washed lashes, utters these words by phone upon a lonely Thanksgiving, away from her lover, the great John Gavin, and so loving family, one must truly reach for the tissue box. Back Street by Fanny Brice had been made three times before, but n ever before in the splendor of such magnificent color, gorgeous sets and costumes. The latter worn so capably by the ever beautiful Miss Hayward. How is Hollywood doing without her? An epitome of class and movie stardom. No lover of Old Hollywood and wonderful actors can miss this romance that will take you away from this hard, real world.