MovieChat Forums > The Gay Sisters (1942) Discussion > Lordy, what a mismatched pairing!

Lordy, what a mismatched pairing!

posted 13 years ago by lnoft97
5 replies | jump to latest

Here you have Barbara Stanwyck, one of the best actresses ever, paired up with the wooden George Brent. What a mismatch! There he stands, stiff as a cigar store Indian statue, staring off into space while Barbara acts rings around him. I gather he must have been a matinee idol in his day because he still has his fans, and he was in a lot of movies with a lot more talented people, but I don't see it! (Maybe that was why he was cast, he was a flat piece of wallpaper that Bette Davis and so on could emote against, without distraction.)

[–] littlekaren 13 years ago

Just watching the movie today, too, on TCM. I don't think he's as wooden as you...just that he's got some terrific actresses outdoing him.

[–] HoferPM-1 13 years ago

I think that is why George Brent was chosen for someone like Barbara Stanwyck (one of my favorites). It gave all the scenes with him to her. No one can match her, not even the great Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn, all of whom I love. I think Robert Ryan came close to matching her in Clash By Night, another one of her greatest films. George was in many films and I think he did a great job in every one of them. He is who he is !!!!!!! Dependable !!!!!

[–] brackenhe 13 years ago

Exactly. I almost always enjoy Brent and it was no different in this film. At least he had steady work and apparently was quite a hit with the ladies off screen as well.

In this film, I thought it was pretty clear from the moment he appeared that he & Fiona (Stanwyck) had a past. My only quibble with the film is that the last 15 minutes seemed to rush toward the conclusion. Otherwise--pretty good chick flick.

[–] bill3-1 12 years ago

George Brent was always a stiff, but he is actually quite good in The Purchase Price with Barbara Stanwyck, but you kind of have to face it anyone and everyone paired up with Stanwyck got acted in circles around, she's always that good, there are exceptions, Fonda being one of them. I guess Brent and Stanwyck got paired up together so often is because, they did look good together.

[–] mojo2004 8 years ago

Here you have Barbara Stanwyck, one of the best actresses ever, paired up with the wooden George Brent. What a mismatch! There he stands, stiff as a cigar store Indian statue, staring off into space while Barbara acts rings around him.

Funny thing is role Barbara Stanwyck played ,'Fiona', was offered to Bette Davis first. She turned it down. Bette & George Brent were a hugely favorite screen couple. They made 13 films together. They also were involved romantically for a long time but always married other people. Between them they married 9 times. He did the deed 5 times & she 4 times.

The early bird might get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese!