SPOILERS THROUGHOUT. 'Private Worlds' is a turgid melodrama that seems more like a soap opera than anything else. Each of the major characters has his or her bizarre subplot, and there's no foreshadowing of any of these. We get no clue that Dr MacGregor's wife is emotionally disturbed until she suddenly starts hearing voices. We get no hint that Dr MacGregor is having an affair with Dr Monet's sister until we see them at it. In fact, I had a great deal of trouble believing that Dr Monet (French actor Charles Boyer) and his sister Claire (Texan actress Helen Vinson) are siblings; their accents don't match, and I was positive that their ostensible siblinghood would turn out to be a cover for something else ... which turns out to be one of the few plot twists that does NOT happen.
Claudette Colbert stars as Dr Jane Everest, a hospital psychiatrist whom everyone else deems slightly abnormal because she's a woman who's dedicated to her job instead of yearning to be a wife and mother. (Does anyone want to mount Everest?) We see her demonstrating her rapport with several mental patients: Guinn Williams chews the scenery as an escaped psychopath, and Bess Flowers gives a sensitive and touching performance in a brief role as a depressive. Less convincing is Jean Rouverol in a poorly-written role as the victim of childhood abuse. Esther Dale, whom I've never liked, is more annoying than usual here.
The hospital's director has retired, and Colbert is quids-in to be the new boss. But the board of directors can't have a (gasp!) *WOMAN* in charge! The new appointee is Charles Boyer, with bedroom eyes and Casbah accent. He blithely tells Colbert he's taking her off the ward and transferring her to the outpatient clinic, which he feels is a more suitable place for a woman. C'est la vie, oui?
Although released by Paramount, this was an independent production of Walter Wanger, and the low budget shows. Most of the cast give good performances despite weak material. Samuel S Hinds, a reliable character actor who usually played pillars of integrity, has an interesting piece of business here. Cast as Dr Arnold, a dignified psychiatrist who quietly does his job, Hinds attracts little attention until he casually mentions that he used to be a patient in this same mental hospital! The announcement never leads to anything, so we never learn whether Dr Arnold is telling the truth or cracking a bad joke.
Individual aspects of 'Private Worlds' are enjoyable and impressive, but this really feels like a turgid soap opera rather than a drama of human relationships. At the end, Colbert and Boyer suddenly decide to fall in love. Pass the anaesthetic, please. I'll rate this thing 5 out of 10. Good night, nurse!
Claudette Colbert stars as Dr Jane Everest, a hospital psychiatrist whom everyone else deems slightly abnormal because she's a woman who's dedicated to her job instead of yearning to be a wife and mother. (Does anyone want to mount Everest?) We see her demonstrating her rapport with several mental patients: Guinn Williams chews the scenery as an escaped psychopath, and Bess Flowers gives a sensitive and touching performance in a brief role as a depressive. Less convincing is Jean Rouverol in a poorly-written role as the victim of childhood abuse. Esther Dale, whom I've never liked, is more annoying than usual here.
The hospital's director has retired, and Colbert is quids-in to be the new boss. But the board of directors can't have a (gasp!) *WOMAN* in charge! The new appointee is Charles Boyer, with bedroom eyes and Casbah accent. He blithely tells Colbert he's taking her off the ward and transferring her to the outpatient clinic, which he feels is a more suitable place for a woman. C'est la vie, oui?
Although released by Paramount, this was an independent production of Walter Wanger, and the low budget shows. Most of the cast give good performances despite weak material. Samuel S Hinds, a reliable character actor who usually played pillars of integrity, has an interesting piece of business here. Cast as Dr Arnold, a dignified psychiatrist who quietly does his job, Hinds attracts little attention until he casually mentions that he used to be a patient in this same mental hospital! The announcement never leads to anything, so we never learn whether Dr Arnold is telling the truth or cracking a bad joke.
Individual aspects of 'Private Worlds' are enjoyable and impressive, but this really feels like a turgid soap opera rather than a drama of human relationships. At the end, Colbert and Boyer suddenly decide to fall in love. Pass the anaesthetic, please. I'll rate this thing 5 out of 10. Good night, nurse!