Best Cooper Film that never appears on TV
Randy Keehn | 10/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a huge Cooper fan since childhood (before VCRs, when we had no choice but to wait for films to show up on TV). As an adult, I have tried to procure every Cooper film available anywhere. I enjoy seeing Cooper in everything (even when the film itself is sort of a dud) and I often see why some of the films get shown so infrequently/why they get bad reviews. This film is one of Cooper's best romantic parts, and I have no idea why it is not shown often or highly reviewed. There is real chemistry between the stars,and some beautifully romantic moments. I want to see some romance in Gary's movies-not just action adventure type stuff. This is definitely one of his steemiest/sexiest roles! Like "Ball of Fire", I can watch it again and again."
Magnificent, sensitive Love Story
Fernando Silva | Santiago de Chile. | 07/22/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"King Vidor was a master, period; and this unjustly underrated film shows why. This kind of atmospheric, sensitive, nostalgic movies aren't made anymore; they belong to the Classic Era.
I wasn't sure what to expect after reeading so much about this wonderful film, positive, negative and so-so opinions. Well, this film confirms, at least to me, that Gary Cooper played some of his best roles during the 1930s, just before his definite screen-persona was established. Here he portrays a sophisticated writer, leading and empty, foolish existence, with an equally sophisticated wife, portrayed by Helen Vinson, who is truly outstanding in her role, who discovers true love when she meets a plain, simple, sweet (immigrant) Polish farm-girl, when he goes back to his hometown in Connecticut.
Since when I was young I had mostly-only seen Cooper's films from the 1940s and 1950s, it was a huge and pleasant discovery when the "1930s' Gary Cooper" began unveiling after watching on VHS/DVD some of his most unique films: "A Farewell to Arms", "Design for Living", "Desire", "Morocco", "Peter Ibbetson"... He was suche a gifted, natural, unaffected, sensitive performer, giving truthful romantic meaning to his portrayals, so devoid of any corny attachements. He was one of the greatest actors ever, unjustly underrated and stereotyped by his later naive-taciturn roles, in which he also was excellent, but there was much more than that to his Screen Persona. He was also great in sophisticated comedies and senstive romantic films like this one.
Anna Sten's performance is equally senstive and it's a pity she did not have more leading roles in American Films.
If you are looking for delicate, sensitive, well-told, romantic, sad love story, this one is for you."
Very touching story
A. Stout | Texas | 03/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is not one of Cooper's most well known films but it is a very good one and deserves more attention. Cooper is an author who has run out of money and ideas so he and his wife retreat to an old family farm in Connecticut. There he meets Anna Sten who is the daughter of Polish immigrants that run a tobacco farm. She breaks his writer's block and he decides to write a story about her hard working family. Meanwhile his wife has decided to go back to New York city as farm life is not for her. Cooper and Sten fall in love but unlike movies of today there is no graphic sex scene as they do not consumate their feelings. Instead their love is shown very cleverly and sensually through glances that last a little too long and sweet gestures like Anna cooking for him and taking care of him. Her father however has plans for her to marry Frederik played by a young Ralph Bellamy. Frederik discovers that Sten and Cooper are in love but decides to marry her anyway because of the land and house he will get as part of her dowry. This movie has an unhappy ending but it is very fitting for the piece and only adds to it's depth and realism.
On top of this being a very good film it's also a chance to see a young and very handsome Gary Cooper. Anna Sten was quite beautiful also but this was her last major picture as for some reason she just did not "catch on" with the movie public. She is very good in this film however and you won't be disappointed if you check it out."
COOPER AT HIS BEST. STEN SUPERB.
Greg J. Sandie | Lakewood, California United States | 08/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ranks up there with Friendly Persuasion; for Gary Cooper, one of his top three. The press, albeit known for their combination of compassion and intelligence, chased Anna Sten out of the industry after this film. Too bad, she's nothing short of outstanding. Great Movie. Someone should tell leonard Maltin to put a sock in it. He's wrong."