MovieChat Forums > Young Man with a Horn (1950) Discussion > Little known goodie

Little known goodie

posted 16 years ago by poopy
5 replies | jump to latest

If you can get past the boyish unbridled optimism of "pre Bacall" Douglas, this little gem of a movie should find a place in your dvd for at least one viewing pleasure.

It has enough to keep the musician in you happy and adds a nice measure of intense drama alongside it. I think it's one of Lauren Bacall's most challenging rolls and I think she pulls it off very well. It begins with a journey of a man who was born to play the trumpet and as he grows and experiences authority and controlling love affairs he does awake at the end to find himself no longer a boy and no longer optimistic with a horn in his hand. It's a tale of maturity, love and hope and doesn't fall stale to a formulaic script. If you don't mind when the script plays a little jazz (pun intended) and comes out fluidity, you should enjoy this.

[–] BelleCBelle 13 years ago

How ironic I found your post! I think her performance in this movie to be one of the worst performances of hers I have ever seen, and think it is a good example of the necessity of a strong director for some actors. She could be a good actor, but not in this movie - but that is my opinion, of course.

Human Rights: Know them, demand them, defend them.

[–] obx4u2c 13 years ago

I have to agree with you LC, she needed to be reigned in more in this pic, of course she is always going to shine in some way due to her beauty and self assureness. The lesbian touch helped a little to explain her character. Overall solid flick.

[–] liscarkat-2 11 years ago

I don't think you know what 'ironic' means.

[–] BelleCBelle 11 years ago

I laughed out loud at your post, and I usually don't laugh out loud when reading something (except when I read PG Wodehouse). You are 100% right. My use of English has become lazy as my life has progressed. This is no excuse, just a fact, but I have had a Coup contrecoup injury to the brain (brain bounced to the back of the skull and then the front of the skull, as my neurologists have told me, "slight brain damage" due to a serious horseback- sounds worse than it was -accident in 2001. One neuropsychologist told me that my intellect has simply come down to most people's level. However, that was no comfort to me.

Anyway, I will start using a dictionary more often. And I do love Lauren Bacall.

"Time wounds all heels." Groucho Marx, Go West

[–] fanaticita 8 years ago

Great post Belle! You like PG Wodehouse eh? I'm watching the series (on DVD) of The Blandings and each episode it hilarious. I laugh so hard I almost choke!