Copyright 1960. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at the Criterion: 22 September 1960. U.K. release: May 1960 (sic). Australian release: 29 August 1960. 10,990 feet; 122 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Physically and mentally scarred by the cruelty of his clergyman father, Chad Bixby turns to Salome, the hard-working daughter of poor and puritanical Joshua Davis; but she rejects him and flees to New York, where she marries a playboy student.COMMENT: Even a few songs from Pearl Bailey and a few snatches of hot trumpet-playing cannot save this hoke. All four principals are both uninspired and unconvincing. The plot is a tired amalgam of trite clichés, and director Anderson (who has slipped a long, long way from his peak with "Around the World in 80 Days") seems as utterly bored with the absurdly melodramatic proceedings as we are. Ludicrous, preposterous and utterly ridiculous, this movie is every bit as boring as its catchpenny title suggests.

This film suffers from most of the shortcomings mentioned in many of the comments above. Nevertheless, it's worth watching for two principal reasons: The breath-taking, youthful beauty of Natalie Woods, the most beautiful young woman I've ever seen, and the performance of Pearl Bailey, a fascinating personality and a marvelous actress and singer. Sadly, Pearl doesn't get to sing nearly enough (2 blues songs), but her part alone was decently written, and she acquits herself quite well in the meaty role. Wagner does a creditable job despite having to recite the idiotic and banal lines of his character, and the others are passable at best. Hamilton is borderline OK and Kohner munches the scenery something awful in most of her scenes. Were it not for Woods' stunning beauty and Bailey's excellent work, this one would truly stink.

Whenever I can view a film with Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood and see the super star Pearl Bailey, I know it will be a great film classic of 1960. Robert Wagner,(Chad Bixby),"Banning",'67, plays the son of a preacher who has some great mental hang ups and decides to become a blues trumpet player and never stops thinking about his father. Chad meets up with Pearl Bailey(Ruby Jones),"Porgy & Bess",'59, who takes him under her arm and gives him the moral strength he is deeply lacking. Susan Kohner,(Catherine McDowall),"The Gene Krupa Story",'59, gets involved with Chad which creates problems for Catherine. Natalie Wood,(Sarah 'Salome' Davis),"Dear Brat",'51, also has a strong attraction to Chad and there are many family problems among the couples. George Hamilton,(Tony McDowall),"Love At First Bite",'79, simply cannot figure out what the problem is with his wife Catherine and seems to give her plenty of time to solve her problems. There are great musical sounds through out the picture and Pearl Bailey out shines the entire cast.

I love this picture. I think it's one of his best. For years I have been hoping it come to VHS. It's time to go into that library of movies and put them in VHS. I hope someone take a look at this and put on tape.