A doctor returning from the Korean War to his hometown in Pennsylvania must choose what next to do with his life.A doctor returning from the Korean War to his hometown in Pennsylvania must choose what next to do with his life.A doctor returning from the Korean War to his hometown in Pennsylvania must choose what next to do with his life.
Philip Ahlm
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Elsie Baker
- Mrs. Olzoneski
- (uncredited)
Mary Benoit
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to December 1950 articles in The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times, producer Hal B. Wallis purchased the rights to the novel before it was published for $100,000 ($1.3M in 2024). Wallis intended the leads to be Burt Lancaster and Patricia Neal and that the project was to be filmed at Paramount. It never got off the ground, and Wallis ended up selling the rights to Columbia in early 1953.
- GoofsThe beginning scenes of movie show coal mine operations in Coalville, PA. The railroad caboose was from ATSF (Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe). That railroad never had operations in Pennsylvania.
- Quotes
Dr. Tom Owen: [on the phone with his wife] Oh, I'm interviewing nurses, of course... Don't be silly, darling - of course she'll be fat and ugly. I do insist on good legs, though.
Featured review
formula Hollywood movie
Charlton Heston and Lizabeth Scott are "Bad for Each Other" in this predictable 1953 film, also starring Mildred Dunnock, Arthur Franz, Marjorie Rambeau, and Dianne Foster. Heston plays a doctor who returns from the service to the coal town where he grew up. After meeting the wealthy, twice-married, shallow Scott, he decides not to stay in the service and becomes a society doctor, in it for the money. The nurse he hires to work for him (Foster) thinks he's better than that. The role played by Arthur Franz, that of a young doctor who admires him and doesn't mind going into the trenches, is essentially Heston's conscience.
I found this film pretty bland, but the big problem for me was that the main character as portrayed by Heston was just not likable. He wasn't likable before he took up with Scott nor was he likable throughout the film. Some of this was in the script, but some of it was in his line readings. He had fat attitude every time he opened his mouth. Frankly I didn't care what he did.
Lizabeth Scott was best earlier in her career, in her noir days, where her great voice, sexy blond looks, and ambiguous performances fit very well. Her character in this also was annoying. Now, she's not supposed to be likable, but we should have been able to see why Heston liked her. She seemed awfully pushy for his character to have put up with her.
Heston was tall, handsome, with a great voice and a dominating presence. This film was unfortunately directed in a somewhat old-fashioned manner so as to seem melodramatic and over the top. When someone with that strong a screen persona is directed that way, his performance becomes too actor-y.
Nothing special.
I found this film pretty bland, but the big problem for me was that the main character as portrayed by Heston was just not likable. He wasn't likable before he took up with Scott nor was he likable throughout the film. Some of this was in the script, but some of it was in his line readings. He had fat attitude every time he opened his mouth. Frankly I didn't care what he did.
Lizabeth Scott was best earlier in her career, in her noir days, where her great voice, sexy blond looks, and ambiguous performances fit very well. Her character in this also was annoying. Now, she's not supposed to be likable, but we should have been able to see why Heston liked her. She seemed awfully pushy for his character to have put up with her.
Heston was tall, handsome, with a great voice and a dominating presence. This film was unfortunately directed in a somewhat old-fashioned manner so as to seem melodramatic and over the top. When someone with that strong a screen persona is directed that way, his performance becomes too actor-y.
Nothing special.
- How long is Bad for Each Other?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Color
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