In This Our Life (1942)

71% of users liked it
(1,084 ratings)

In This Our Life is not a "for the ages" classic of the Golden Age of Cinema, but as a highly effective and entertaining melodrama, it more than fits the bill. Howard Koch's screenplay is a trifle predictable, but it's well structured and provides the requisite juicy roles for its pair of female… More In This Our Life is not a "for the ages" classic of the Golden Age of Cinema, but as a highly effective and entertaining melodrama, it more than fits the bill. Howard Koch's screenplay is a trifle predictable, but it's well structured and provides the requisite juicy roles for its pair of female stars. It also provides a number of little surprises -- a sympathetic and (for the time) non-stereotypical portrayal of a black character and two characters living not only in sin but adulterously so -- that give it some distinction. The script's main drawback is its initial lack of focus; it doesn't seem to quite know exactly what its story is and where the real conflict will lie. Ultimately, this doesn't really matter, for John Huston knows where it's going, and he shepherds the story along very efficiently, throwing in a little social commentary here, heightening the atmosphere there, tossing in a hint of the unsavory elsewhere. Although he doesn't really know what to do with the male actors (save for Charles Coburn and Frank Craven, each of whom is just right in entirely different ways), he handles the women in exactly the right way, including Billie Burke as the coddling, neurotic mother. It's Bette Davis, of course, who gets the showiest role, and she sinks her teeth into it and plays it for all it's worth. It's a great Davis performance, but she's still outdone by Olivia de Havilland, whose quiet, understated work anchors the film and ultimately makes the greater impression. It's terribly fine film acting, and immensely satisfying. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: John Huston
Written By: Ellen Glasgow, Howard Koch, John Huston
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: May 8, 1942 Wide
On DVD: Apr 1, 2008

Critic Reviews

Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Good soap opera, with an unusually resiliant Good Woman, and plenty to say about race relations.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Don't be fooled by the impressive credits. This is pretty much a stinker.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Just by reading the synopsis on here, you can tell this movie involves a very complicated love story. I think it's a bit too complicated. It's an okay movie, but it's not great.
Veronique K

"in this our life" is bette davis' cooperation with director john huston, backsetted in the old south reputed for its insolent southern belle while racial bigotry still exists then. olivia de havilland's casted as davis' virtuous sister with the capacity and… More
"in this our life" is bette davis' cooperation with director john huston, backsetted in the old south reputed for its insolent southern belle while racial bigotry still exists then. olivia de havilland's casted as davis' virtuous sister with the capacity and benevolence to make the best of everything, even the men disposed by davis. it might be a reminder of de havilland's miss goody goody image in "gone with the wind" but this time her counterpart devoids the glamourous polish and de havilland herself begins to show some hardened edge rather than her sweet pie lad image alongside errol flynn in swashbuckler pieces. davis is the wildly arbitrary sister of the reputed timberlake family with an uncle who has a drolling incestuous crush on her. with the uncle's financial backup,davis struts around, stealing her sister's beau then destroys him willfully, eventually her irresponsiblity deteriorates into framing a diligent black janitor after she accidentally runs over a woman. davis plays that kind of malicious bitch who could only be gratified by someone else's unhappiness, and once she obtains and devours something, she tramps it and tosses aside, absolutely guiltless and unwilling to take the blame with a pretentious victimized facade. unevitably "in this our life" is melodramatic with the archetypes of selfless gentle woman like de havilland and bitch-perfect bette davis, but at least it has enough relish to make a watchable picture, and john huston's noirish strokes add gritty seasoning to it. like "jezebel" and "little foxes", davis gets into the skin of another abrasive southern stereotype, malevolent egoist who is vain enough to disregard the welfare of others. "gone with the wind" glamour star vivien leigh also thrives in such southern belle role, such as her scarlet o'hara and "streetcar named desire", but the main difference between leigh's and davis' interpretations would be the relentless brass and spunk. leigh's performing style is more feminine and laid-back in the niche of shakespian thespian while miss davis shamelessly smirks and growls. maybe that's what defines davis' feminist poise, watching a woman who doesn't hesitate to galope full throttle being a bitch even she appears in a light of coquettish wardrobe by orry-kelly.
jay n

no one's as good as bette when she's bad
nefnie l

Bette Davis is sooo good at being bad.

Cast

            Bette Davis as Stanley Timberlake

            Olivia de Havilland as Roy Timberlake

            George Brent as Craig Fleming

            Dennis Morgan as Peter Kingsmill

            Charles Coburn as William Fitzroy

            Frank Craven as Asa Timberlake

            Hattie McDaniel as Minerva Clay

            Billie Burke as Lavinia Timberlake

            Lee Patrick as Betty Wilmouth

            Mary Servoss as Charlotte Fitzroy

            Ernest Anderson as Parry Clay

            William B. Davidson as Jim Purdy

            Edward Fielding as Dr. Buchanan

            John Hamilton as Inspector

            William Forrest as Ranger

            Eddie Acuff as Worker

            Mary Astor
            
            Walter S. Baldwin as Worker

            Al Bridge as Worker

            Walter Brooke as Cab driver

            Elisha Cook Jr. as Roadhouse Customer

            Dudley Dickerson as Waiter

            Ruth Ford as Young mother

            Herbert Heywood as Worker

            Walter Huston as Bartender

            Freddie Jackson
            
            Fred Kelsey
            
            Sam McDaniel as Man

            Sammy "Sunshine" Morrison
            
            Lee Phelps as Policeman

            George H. Reed as Butler

            Elliott Sullivan as Worker

            Billy Wayne as Customer

            Jester Hairston
            
            Billy Mitchell as Man

            Reid Kilpatrick as Announcer

            Napoleon Simpson as Man

            Ira Buck Woods as Man
See full cast