Escape Me Never

In turn of the century Venice, composer brothers Sebastian (Errol Flynn) and Caryl (Gig Young) both fall for two women: low-born Gemma (Ida Lupino), a widowed single mother with a baby, and wealthy socialite Fenella (Eleanor Parker). Their various romantic entanglements lead them to the Dolemite mountains and to the United Kingdom.

This was based on a play, and had been previously filmed in England, with that film earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for Elisabeth Bergner. This version didn't seem to have much inspiration to it, or perhaps the wrong the director was at the helm, as everything seemed flat and perfunctory. That is, in between scenes of Lupino chewing up the scenery. I've liked her in many things, but not this. And her hair is just awful. Eleanor Parker, who I often don't like, came across better here and fit the setting and the role. I watched this for Flynn, and much like this same year's Cry Wolf, he seems to be trying to stretch his screen range. He still gets to be a bit of a charming rogue, but his romantic scenes feel empty and unbelievable, as did his moments with the ballet company near the end. He seemed most at home during his concertina performances in a beer garden. I didn't detest this movie as many critics seem to, but I wouldn't want to watch it again.