Perhaps it's because we now know the back story regarding the quality of Joan Crawford's parenting skills, but her performance in The Story of Esther Costello lacks credibility. The role of Mrs. Landi is one of an unfulfilled, wealthy woman whose maternal cravings are thwarted by an on-again, off-again relationship with a cheating husband (she doesn't divorce because of her Catholic faith.) Crawford is a little too domineering even in this film to pull off a role that demands a much softer side.
Despite the weakness in casting, the movie itself is highly engaging and retains the interest of the viewer from beginning to end without being too soap-operaish in nature. Rossano Brazzi plays his role of alcoholic gigolo very well, being both charming and disgusting at the same time. Heather Sears does an excellent job as Esther Costello. She has no dialogue until the end, but evokes a sense of vulnerability through her acting skills.
Other reviews have mentioned that Leonard Maltin found the film "unintentionally funny," and I have to concur with his observations. The aftereffect of Mr. Landi's drunken rape of young Esther is that she regains her eyesight and hearing (psychiatric opinion at the time was that a shock to the system would "cure" hysterical blindness / deafness). Not only that, but Esther is suddenly capable of delivering a speech after the Landis are killed. Quite a turnaround for a girl who was blind and deaf for years. This ending varies from that of the original story, but it is in keeping with the desire to create a movie with an uplifting and "happy" ending.
Despite the weakness in casting, the movie itself is highly engaging and retains the interest of the viewer from beginning to end without being too soap-operaish in nature. Rossano Brazzi plays his role of alcoholic gigolo very well, being both charming and disgusting at the same time. Heather Sears does an excellent job as Esther Costello. She has no dialogue until the end, but evokes a sense of vulnerability through her acting skills.
Other reviews have mentioned that Leonard Maltin found the film "unintentionally funny," and I have to concur with his observations. The aftereffect of Mr. Landi's drunken rape of young Esther is that she regains her eyesight and hearing (psychiatric opinion at the time was that a shock to the system would "cure" hysterical blindness / deafness). Not only that, but Esther is suddenly capable of delivering a speech after the Landis are killed. Quite a turnaround for a girl who was blind and deaf for years. This ending varies from that of the original story, but it is in keeping with the desire to create a movie with an uplifting and "happy" ending.