MovieChat Forums > The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) Discussion > The STINKABLE Molly Brown

The STINKABLE Molly Brown

posted 17 years ago by gbennett5
25 replies | jump to latest

I sat through this lumbering, overlong corn-fest yet again today. The
first time I saw it, I didn't care for it and today, I out and out
hated it.

For starters, there's uh - NO STORY! A tomboy gets picked on by her
brothers, so she leaves and meets some singing Paul Bunnion in the
backwoods. He devotes himself to her, begs her to marry him. She
does, then cries because she didn't get a wedding dress and sets his
life savings on fire. No matter. As he leaves to buy booze, his
axe strikes gold and they become rich.

And that's the FIRST half.

Second half, one tedious party after another, as Eliza Doolittle -er, sorry,
Molly Brown learns how to be a sophisticate and win over the snooty
locals. That's in Europe. Then Paul Bunnion feels left out and leaves
Molly. No problem. She jumps on - a drum roll, please - the TITANIC.
As countless husbands and boys drown, Molly "cheers up" their screaming
mothers/husbands. With a Song. Then she goes home and Paul is waiting
for her. In the same mansion. Which was no different than anything
in Europe.

And that's the end of the "movie." Two hours and 15 minutes later.

Sure, there's a few lively musical numbers, where REAL dancers dance
and clumsy Debbie stomps around. There's also the "delight" of
Harve Presnell, sporting eye liner (!) and what looks like a borrowed
wig from Kim Novak! He sounded like Nelson Eddy and looked like one
half of Siefried and Roy.

Would've napped through the whole thing if there wasn't so much damn
noise!

[–] novastar_6 17 years ago

Go blow it out your tubenburbles, it's a good movie, but if it ain't for you then go find something else that floats your gravy boat.

[–] chett56 17 years ago

Relax.....it's just a movie. If you didn't like it, why did you watch it. There are OFF buttons on your TV,VCR,DVD player and your REMOTE CONTROL. There are plenty of people who like this movie even if its just for the chance to escape for "2 hours and 15 minutes". I'm sorry you did not like it, but that's your opinion and your entitled to it.....even if your wrong.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Randy-144 16 years ago

I always get a chuckle when I hear someone say in response to a negative review/comment, "If you didn't like it, why did you watch it?" Could you imagine someone telling Roger Ebert the same thing? A person's negative review is just as valid as one that praises the movie, assuming that valid reasons are given for or against.

The OP took the time to watch it a second time. Sometimes after seeing a movie again you find something about it you didn't see the first time; you may like it more -- you may like it less.

[–] jengreens 14 years ago

I haven't seen this movie yet but a couple of friends of mine were talking about it yesterday because they want to rent the DVD. Agree with you Randy-144 that people can have their own opinions about movies, however, I think the person who started this thread went a little overboard in their criticizing this movie. I still want to watch it myself and give my own opinion.

[–] fdc-2 16 years ago

What I can't believe is this: Gbennett5 claims that this has no story, yet, writes several paragraphs telling us the story of the movie. This individual must have alot of time on their hands to watch a movie for 2 hours & 15 minutes that has no STORY.

[–] schappe1 16 years ago

But Debbie left teethmarks in every tree west of the Mississippi. Having seen Tammy Grimes, I suspect she did the same. I wonder what it would have been like with Shirley MacLaine? She's a better actress than both of them put together.

[–] mit800 16 years ago

Debbie certainly needed a stronger director to reign in some of that scenery chewing. She says this was her favorite part but, she has been MUCH better in many other films.

[–] nycruise-1 16 years ago

LOL - I don't what inspired/spurred you on to completely trash the movie, but I enjoyed it (your review).

I always thought this was a weak musical: Molly's twist of fate on the Titanic is what the whole play must revolve around - then when it comes it is brief, with a hurried conclusion since, as you say, there is little else in the way of a real dramatic narrative.

I still enjoy it though.

But I also like a good "bad" review - and that's what you provided.

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

[–] laxlon 13 years ago

I agree with you that it is way too long. And the songs are OK but a notch or two down from Rogers and Hammerstein. The movie didn't require great acting. It is colorful but there is something heavy handed and stiff about it. I've seen it twice and that's enough.

[–] bobbobato 13 years ago

No, there was a story. The film is united by the constant reapperence of Molly's ambitions and the reflections on the oddness of her character and struggles to fit in. It's a plot that's missing.
I will agree that the story was a little silly and childsh, and the way the sinking of the Titanic was shown was utterly tasteless.

[–] mikwalen 13 years ago

I actually thought that the TITANIC sequence was a cop out...they simply used footage from one of the 50's movies (NIGHT TO REMEMBER? TITANIC!...?) and it gets obvious because suddenly the picture quality changes and goes from color to B & W.

"I'm the only person here I've never heard of" - Charity Hope Valentine, SWEET CHARITY

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 9 years ago

I actually thought that the TITANIC sequence was a cop out...they simply used footage from one of the 50's movies (NIGHT TO REMEMBER? TITANIC!...?) and it gets obvious because suddenly the picture quality changes and goes from color to B & W.

When I watched it, the Titanic scene was in color, so maybe your version was messed up or something? Either that, or I'm remembering wrong, but I watched it just today.

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

[–] psmithyyyyy 7 years ago

That was what I was going to say, its not a story that's missing, its lack of a real plot. Its more a lighthearted western romp I suppose, if your into that sorta of thing you'll love this.

[–] ncgraham 13 years ago

This review cracked me UP! I'll agree that the movie was too long for the story it told, and that the Titanic scenes should have been made to fit into the plot better, but really, it's quite a bit better than you make it sound. By the way, Molly doesn't have any brothers. (Those are the sons of her adopted father's friend ... got that straight?)

And Paul BUNNION? Oh my goodness....