This film is based on a book by Margaret Carpenter published in 1943 and Goodreads gives the book 3.50 with 8 ratings and 3 reviews. The time period of this film is early 1903. Dr. Huntington Bailey encounters a very strange woman on a train. Later, he hears that she has died under unusual circumstances at the Bederaux home? Dr. Bailey becomes acquainted with the Bederaux family. The young son has nightmares, he has trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. The entire family seems to be neurotic and secretive? The wife/mother Alida Bederaux is very beautiful and he first sees her portrait before he meets her in person.
I thought this film was very complicated and there were scenes that I didn’t understand in spite of paying close attention? I do think they are resolved as the film continues. Hedy is very beautiful in her scenes and also in her portrait. I don’t know how the woman Dr. Bailey met on the train died? I don’t know what the medical diagnosis is concerning the husband/father Nick Bederaux? I do know what was causing the nightmares and lack of sleep for the young son. Dr. Bailey keeps his opinions and medical concerns about the Bederaux family to himself!! There are some interesting scenes at the end with horses and the equipment of this time period. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
91 min, Film-Noir directed by Jacques Tourneur with Hedy Lamarr, George Brent, Paul Lukas, Albert Dekker, Carl Esmond, Olive Blakeney, George N. Neise, Margaret Wycherly, Stephanie Bachelor, Mary Servoss, Julia Dean, William Post Jr.
Note: Imdb 6.4out of 10 with 1,306 views, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 6 critics 34% audience with 189 ratings, DVD Talk: Movie excellent, video good, sound good by Glenn Erickson, nicksflickpicks.com B-, chicagoreader.com3* J.R. Jones, Amazon 3.8* out of 5* with 12 ratings, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed at RKO Studios, 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The title is a common variation of a line from Hippocrates, the Greek Father of Medicine. The meaning is life is short, art is long, decision difficult and experiment perilous. The singing voice of Hedy Lamarr was dubbed by Paula Raymond. 100 tons of ice and 6 snow machines were used to create the snow supposedly in New York City. Lamarr was on loan to RKO for this film. She made only one more for MGM before leaving the studio in 1945 at the end of her 7-year contract. Unusually, several aquariums are along one wall on the first floor of the large Bederaux home. Originally Cary Grant and Gregory were to star in the role of Dr. Bailey.
Hedy Lamarr: She was married six times and she adopted a son James in 1939 during her marriage to Gene Markey, this was her second marriage. She had a daughter Denise in 1945 and a son Anthony in 1947 during her marriage to her third husband John Loder and he adopted James. She died at the age of 86 in January 2000 in the community of Casselberry just north of Orland Florida.
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