Film Review
Perhaps the least typical of Preston Sturges's films is this oft
overlooked biography of the man who is now credited with the
introduction of anaesthetics in medical procedure.
It's a curious beast in which the director makes an earnest attempt to tell an
insightful and poignant story whilst simultaneously indulging his
penchant for boisterous slapstick, with mixed results. Whilst
The Great Moment has some
entertainment value, thanks to Sturges's unflagging flair for comedy,
and does shed some light on an important historical figure, it is far
less satisfying than the director's other films. The narrative is
slightly muddled, the characterisation is generally weak, and the
frequent switches of mood, from serious drama to farce and back again,
makes the film feel uneven and superficial.
One thing the film does lack is a strong central performance.
Joel McCrea was superlative as the lead in Sturges's previous
Sullivan's Travels (1941), but
here his performance lacks substance and whilst sympathetic, he is
unconvincing as the dedicated man of science he is supposed to be
portraying.
Another flaw is the film's botched editing. The
executives at Paramount were unhappy with its original cut and had it
completely re-edited, without Sturges's input. This accounts for
the film's confusing narrative construction, its choppy mood and its
startlingly abrupt ending (the last scene was originally intended to
have been
in the middle of the film!). It's hardly surprising the film was
ill-received by the critics and fared badly at the box office, marking
the beginning of the decline in Sturges's fortunes as a
filmmaker. Today, the film is regarded in a more positive light,
and not only as a result of the resurgence of interest in Preston
Sturges.
The Great Moment combines
some enjoyable comedy with an informative account of the life of a man
to whom each one of us owes a great deal, William
T. G. Morton, the man who took the pain out of surgery.
© James Travers 2008
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Next Preston Sturges film:
Christmas in July (1940)
Film Synopsis
This is the story of William T. G. Morton, one of the
most important figures in the history of medical science. Whilst
practicing as a dentist in Boston in the 1840s, he investigated various
ways to relieve pain during tooth extraction. He found
that by getting his patients to inhale ether, they became insensible to
pain. It was a discovery that should have made him a wealthy man,
honoured by his peers and revered by all mankind. In reality, he
ended his days in near-poverty, shamed and shunned by his
profession. After his premature death, his widow looks back
on his life and reflects on those momentous days in 1846 when William
T. G. Morton changed the world forever...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.