Mr. Skeffington

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Plot: Fanny Skeffington, an incorrigible society flirt of the WWI era, was one of the meatiest roles and most exasperating women Bette Davis ever played. Flighty Fanny loves the attention of her male suitor...( read more read more... )s, but marries the steadfast Jewish financier Job Skeffington (Claude Rains) for security; long after their wedding day, she still enjoys receiving gentlemen callers. Time catches up with Fanny, of course, and the bills are due by the time World War II rolls around.

Mr. Skeffington is a vintage Warner Bros. workout for Davis, who never shied away from playing unsympathetic or physically unappealing roles. (Her main worry here was looking pretty enough in the early reels to justify Fanny's reputation.) Her theatrical performance and Rains's impeccable work carry the handsomely dressed story through its many melodramatic shifts. The dialogue by Julius and Philip Epstein (who were doing Casablanca around this time) has the sprung rhythm of screwball comedy, although director Vincent Sherman and the cast don't always seem to have noticed this. There's also the growing issue of anti-Semitism--a subject rare in Hollywood prior to this--especially as it concerns Fanny and Job's daughter. But mostly the film has Bette Davis, who strides headfirst into the gray areas (her indifferent treatment of her daughter is especially unappetizing), a fearless attitude that looks like the polar opposite of Fanny Skeffington's vanity. --Robert Horton

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  • svmainus
    svmainus
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 6, 2008
    Lovely old classic with Bette Davis playing a vain socialite who married for security and can display nothing but indifference toward her husband (memorably played by Claude Rains) and their daughter but continues to keep men around her simply for the attention. There are enough light-hearted moments in this to take the edge off this very heavy film that sometimes is so emotionally excruiating in the way she treats her husband and daughter it's hard to watch; but there is no doubt this is a classic that earned it's reputation by the grand performances of both Bette Davis and Claude Rains and nice supporting role by Walter Able.
  • rubystevens
    rubystevens
    3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    August 5, 2008
    bette davis is a wide eyed, breathy caricature of herself but claude rains is outstanding as the husband she doesn't love
  • moonrivers
    moonrivers
    3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    April 23, 2008
    i didn't even know this one was out there, but absolutely loved it when i first saw it. one of the great "undiscovered" films with one of the most underappreciated actors in film history, senor mister rains.
  • VictoriaEGS
    VictoriaEGS
    3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 24, 2007
    Decent. Entertaining enough, and Bette Davis actually looks pretty in it - well, until she gets old, but oh well.
  • mizzmmv
    mizzmmv
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    April 13, 2007
    BLAH! You'll cry at the ending, and want to kick Bette in the butt for being so mean to her husband.
  • hanadesbordes
    hanadesbordes
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    February 18, 2007
    Masterpiece. Pure art. Claude Rains does it again with the firey Bette Davis. The best scene is the last which makes Mr. Skeffington an A+ in my book!
  • robertbuehner
    robertbuehner
    4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    February 6, 2007
    Bette Davis shines as Fanny. Claude Rains is masterful as Mr. Skeffington. The lack of regard for love that Fanny exudes can easily be appreciated by those of us who gave up on love long ago. The ending is perhaps the most enduring element the magnificent film. Love finds Fanny again, at last.
  • theoneandonlytony
    theoneandonlytony
    2.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 10, 2006
    Bette Davis decides not to grow old gracefully, and as a result alienates those that are close to her. Had it's moments, two very strong performances by Bette Davis and particulary Claude Rains but nevertheless kinda tedious and long and just really not my thing. Worth watching for Claude Rains.

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