The interaction between these two characters in this 1948 version of "The Woman In White" always cracked me up. Frederick would give Louis cues as to what would aggravate him and Louis always complied. I never read the book but I think the part was beefed up for the two actors and John Abbott gave a perfect comic performance as the nerve wracked Frederick Fairley.
"You may as well go to perdition in ermine; you're sure to come back in rags." Katharine Hepburn
I so agree! John Abbott was amazing. As a nurse of 30 years, I have had patients like that (usually people with severe respiratory problems, having difficulty breathing makes one quite persnickety) He did it on the spot!
"A daffy woman constantly strives to become a star..."
John Abbott as Fairley was hilarious. First he made me chuckle when he asked for opinions and said something like, "So glad you agree with me," before Walter had a chance to answer. Everything Fairley did after that made me laugh louder and louder.
Agnes Moorehead behaving like an unopinionated zombie cracked me up, too. Of course her character was just putting on an act...
Agreed, the nervous guy KILLED!!!
shareI keep thinking the studio teamed these two up again in another movie again adding comic relief but I can't find it.
You may as well go to perdition in ermine; you're sure to come back in rags. Katharine Hepburn