The premise sounded very interesting and the ideas and themes that 'People Will Talk' was very brave to explore on film back then at a time where many wouldn't dare go near them. Have enjoyed quite a number of Joseph L Mankiewicz's other films, 'All About Eve' especially is one of my favourite films. Have always held Cary Grant in very high regard and his charming, suave and urbane acting style was matched by not many in his day. The cast in general has much talent.
Props does have to go to Mankiewicz for daring to go near what is present here in the writing and storytelling and it must have been a shock to a lot of people at the time. Props also has to go to Grant in departing from his usual roles, or the roles he was "typecast" as and played incredibly well always, and showing a more serious side. He had showed a serious side before, but not to this extent and this is one of his better endeavours displaying the more dramatic, less sophisticated and less charming side. Yet, 'People Will Talk' didn't for me quite come together and it struck me as a rather uneven film with some significant drawbacks.
Will begin with the good things, which are actually many and they are significant assets too. Grant is terrific, showing that he was very capable and very successful at breaking away from his comfort zone. Hume Cronyn has one of the more interesting and more plausible characters and is both entertaining and menacing. Walter Slezak is amiable in his role and his friendship with Grant is nicely handled. The most interesting character to me was Shunderson, played with mysterious dignity by Finlay Currie.
Furthermore, 'People Will Talk' is beautifully photographed complete with some atmospheric lighting. Alfred Newman's direction is effective, with some of the best use of pre-existing music for any film seen in a long time with Wagner and especially Brahms prominently integrated as part of the score. There are a fair share of amusing and intelligent moments in the script and the story, there is a doesn't hold anything back approach to the film's themes and Mankiewicz's direction is efficient enough.
Sadly, there are a number of drawbacks. Did find the story, while interesting structurally, rather convoluted and disjointed as a result of trying to include too much content-wise and thematically. Meaning that one was never sure what the film was trying to be and it seemed that Mankiewicz was not sure either. Too few of the characters are fleshed out enough, Shunderson and Elwell being the exceptions. Jeanne Crain is very bland in a somewhat unpleasant role and she and Grant have little chemistry together.
Did feel that the ending was anti-climactic and the film's script is even talkier than the very apt title. It's literate and has fun and intelligence, but is too often too wordy and flowery (not reminiscent of everyday speech) which can bog the film down.
In summary, not bad at all and admirable but uneven. 6/10
Props does have to go to Mankiewicz for daring to go near what is present here in the writing and storytelling and it must have been a shock to a lot of people at the time. Props also has to go to Grant in departing from his usual roles, or the roles he was "typecast" as and played incredibly well always, and showing a more serious side. He had showed a serious side before, but not to this extent and this is one of his better endeavours displaying the more dramatic, less sophisticated and less charming side. Yet, 'People Will Talk' didn't for me quite come together and it struck me as a rather uneven film with some significant drawbacks.
Will begin with the good things, which are actually many and they are significant assets too. Grant is terrific, showing that he was very capable and very successful at breaking away from his comfort zone. Hume Cronyn has one of the more interesting and more plausible characters and is both entertaining and menacing. Walter Slezak is amiable in his role and his friendship with Grant is nicely handled. The most interesting character to me was Shunderson, played with mysterious dignity by Finlay Currie.
Furthermore, 'People Will Talk' is beautifully photographed complete with some atmospheric lighting. Alfred Newman's direction is effective, with some of the best use of pre-existing music for any film seen in a long time with Wagner and especially Brahms prominently integrated as part of the score. There are a fair share of amusing and intelligent moments in the script and the story, there is a doesn't hold anything back approach to the film's themes and Mankiewicz's direction is efficient enough.
Sadly, there are a number of drawbacks. Did find the story, while interesting structurally, rather convoluted and disjointed as a result of trying to include too much content-wise and thematically. Meaning that one was never sure what the film was trying to be and it seemed that Mankiewicz was not sure either. Too few of the characters are fleshed out enough, Shunderson and Elwell being the exceptions. Jeanne Crain is very bland in a somewhat unpleasant role and she and Grant have little chemistry together.
Did feel that the ending was anti-climactic and the film's script is even talkier than the very apt title. It's literate and has fun and intelligence, but is too often too wordy and flowery (not reminiscent of everyday speech) which can bog the film down.
In summary, not bad at all and admirable but uneven. 6/10