That Brennan Girl was restored as part of Martin Scorcese's project to restore worthy films. It is rare that a low-budget movie from Republic studios would get this treatment, and I was pleased to see it screened at the Wexner Center in February.
Part family drama, part crime film, part romance, the film begins in flashback with Mona Freeman as a young girl on Mother's Day disappointed that her own mother writes her off as her sister so she can project youth to snag a rich man. As she grows up, she learns her own tricks to survival as a woman and hardens into a free-wheeling gold digger. James Dunn, a con-man with a soft spot for his Irish mother, takes a shine to her and tries to win her over, but she keeps him at arm's length. Then she meets a soldier on leave, and while she starts off cold against him, his earnestness softens her.
A solid film that keeps us entertained an engaged in spite of its many twists and turns, That Brennan Girl features a solid cast and competent direction by Alfred Santell, who was disillusioned by the producers and retired after this film.
Part family drama, part crime film, part romance, the film begins in flashback with Mona Freeman as a young girl on Mother's Day disappointed that her own mother writes her off as her sister so she can project youth to snag a rich man. As she grows up, she learns her own tricks to survival as a woman and hardens into a free-wheeling gold digger. James Dunn, a con-man with a soft spot for his Irish mother, takes a shine to her and tries to win her over, but she keeps him at arm's length. Then she meets a soldier on leave, and while she starts off cold against him, his earnestness softens her.
A solid film that keeps us entertained an engaged in spite of its many twists and turns, That Brennan Girl features a solid cast and competent direction by Alfred Santell, who was disillusioned by the producers and retired after this film.