MovieChat Forums > Carrie (1952) Discussion > Terribly underrated

Terribly underrated

posted 17 years ago by SnorrSm1989
16 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this movie, and can sincerely tell you that it astonish me how largely forgotten Carrie is. Not only is it forgotten -- it was totally overshadowed even when originally released. Laurence Oliver was at his very best with his painfully deep portrayal of George and so was the rest of the cast. Not only did I find it to be very, very well structured, being a tragic story about an apparently honest businness-man who in reality cheated himself entirely and thus also his family and aqcuaintances -- I was stunned of the character's reactions, especially Oliver's, they seemed so natural and I could feel his frustrating emotions increase inside myself.

A terribly underrated movie. Does anybody agree?

[–] misspaddylee 17 years ago

Although I hate to use the term, I do agree that "Carrie" is underrated. I hadn't heard of the film until the last year and purchased the DVD on the strength of the director, cast and recommendation of the store clerk. What a heart rending, fabulous film. I prefer it even to Dreiser's novel. He seems to have no compassion for the characters he created. My vote for Olivier's finest hour.

I have loaned the DVD to my sister and so another fan is created. In another few years, it will be on everyone's tops list.

"It's as red as the Daily Worker and twice as sore."

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] clockwork_orange2001 17 years ago

I just saw this movie, and can sincerely tell you that it astonish me how largely forgotten Carrie is. Not only is it forgotten -- it was totally overshadowed even when originally released. Laurence Oliver was at his very best with his painfully deep portrayal of George and so was the rest of the cast. Not only did I find it to be very, very well structured, being a tragic story about an apparently honest businness-man who in reality cheated himself entirely and thus also his family and aqcuaintances -- I was stunned of the character's reactions, especially Oliver's, they seemed so natural and I could feel his frustrating emotions increase inside myself.

A terribly underrated movie. Does anybody agree?

I agree wholeheartedly. This is a terrific film with a remarkable performance by Olivier. I think this is one of Wyler's finest works, and that's saying something!

I couldn't believe when I saw that this film only had 380 votes and could only garner a 7.4 rating....such a shame.

"I think that silent films got a lot more things right than talkies." --Stanley Kubrick

[–] khchung61 16 years ago

I wholeheartedly agree with you guys too. I'd rank this film high up there with 'The Best Years of Our Lives', 'Ben-Hur', and 'Dodsworth' as Wyler's finest even though all of his films are great.

[–] modica 16 years ago

A really great film. I think that the material was just too down beat for there to be many fans.

[–] jimakros 16 years ago

Olivier is magnificent,acting all around is good,but the story feels a liitle pushed.Somehow you just know it has to end badly,this is a sign of mediocrity.It could have been really great if they allowed the tragedy to develop more naturaly.Good drama is something that just happens but here you get the feeling the script is trying too hard to make it happen.I think thats why this film is not better known.But i agree its underrated.

[–] jandesimpson 15 years ago

I have long argued that this is possibly the greatest film ever to have emerged from the Holliwood studio system. (See my user comment)

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] vonhangman 13 years ago

I made myself watch it thinking, "Well, it is a William Wyler movie, I guess it won't be terrible" and then found that it was brilliant. It would make for a great double bill with "Nightmare Alley".

[–] cookiela2001 13 years ago

The whole cast is absolutely terrific...and Olivier and Jones play so well together. I have never seen him be so natural, and she is perfectly cast, with a great deal of depth.

I wish they had made Hopkin's part a little less melodramatic, and hinted at what was going on for her all those years, so she wasn't such a stock villainess. Another thing that could be fleshed out a little more is George's pride...you really want him to approach his kids for a loan, and maybe if it were made even clearer why this is impossible for him, his descent would seem fuller. There's also a little too much coincidence at work in the plot...but that's the source material (I guess), so what can you do?

This has to be one of the most depressing stories, ever!! But I love it.

[–] bradjanet 13 years ago

This brilliant film is grotesquely under-rated and contains what may be Olivier's finest screen performance ... yet it is almost forgotten, appearing as a mere footnote in Olivier's and Jones's filmographies ... go figure.

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.

[–] cookiela2001 13 years ago

I think it's because the story is very depressing...and it's set in America, itself...which makes it uncomfortable for American audiences, who may be more comfortable watching tragedy that takes place in, oh, France or England or Russia or Greece or somewhere. If it's in our own backyard, we're like, "Uhhh....ewwww."

[–] bradjanet 13 years ago

I guess ... tragedy is for grown-ups, not perpetual adolescents.

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.

[–] bradjanet 12 years ago

It's an almost forgotten masterpiece.

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.

[–] mathmaniac 11 years ago

I just saw this for the first time. It's free to Prime subscribers of amazon.com, for streaming.

I don't know how I missed seeing this film, it is such a pleasure, so well-acted. It reminds me, with its tragic slow development, of 'The House of Mirth' (2000) starring Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz, Laura Linney, Anthony LaPaglia and Elizabeth McGovern. I say that even though 'House of Mirth' had nowhere near the level of stellar acting performances shown in 'Carrie.'

Still, if you watch 'House of Mirth,' I think you will see what I mean about similarities.

[–] coloradochinesecrested 7 years ago

In my humble but correct opinion, this movie and Miss Jones performance are utterly and disgustingly underrated.
Jennifer shines and steals every scene she's in due to her charm and utterly underrated acting. Eddie Albert is great as the wisecracking beau. The rest of the cast was adequate. But it's Jennifer that will utterly break your heart. Bravo, Miss Jones!