I love Clifton Webb films. However, I was really disappointed when I watched "Dreamboat" as the script often doesn't make a lot of sense and the story is filled with ridiculous situations. Had the script been toned down a bit, it could have been a really cute movie.
When the film begins, Professor Sayre is a boring and contented man. However, his life is upset when students notice that some old silent movies being shown on TV star Sayre! It seems that back in the old days, Sayre was known as Bruce Blair--a Douglas Fairbanks-like actor. Now, his old leading lady (Ginger Rogers) is hosting these old films and they are referring to Blair as "Dreamboat". This causes a disruption on the campus and the boat are considering firing the professor because of this. So, Sayre takes off for New York to try to get the network to stop showing his old films, as he considers this an invasion of privacy. There, his very straight- laced daughter (Anne Francis) lets her hair down and has fun for the first time. What about Sayre? What's going to happen with him?
So much about this story is overdone and lacked subtlety. The story idea seems ridiculous when you see it. After all, so what if the professor used to be an actor? How would the entire campus be disrupted by this for more than a day or two? And, how could a school fire a man because he was an actor decades ago? But there is so much more that is overdone in the film. The head of the college (Elsa Lanchester) NOW is so smitten by Sayre. Now having this woman turned on once she realizes who is really is and begin pursuing him could have been cute but it was just way, way overdone here. Having her literally attacking him and sexually harassing him just made me cringe. The rest of the film is pretty much the same--interesting situations where the script and director just overdo it. Everyone and every situation is so extreme here--like a silly live-action 70s Disney film.
Now am I saying the film is bad? No. But it takes a first-rate idea and ruins much of the impact because it lacks subtlety or finesse. A clear misfire that SHOULD have been a delightful little comedy. Oh well, at least it ended well.
When the film begins, Professor Sayre is a boring and contented man. However, his life is upset when students notice that some old silent movies being shown on TV star Sayre! It seems that back in the old days, Sayre was known as Bruce Blair--a Douglas Fairbanks-like actor. Now, his old leading lady (Ginger Rogers) is hosting these old films and they are referring to Blair as "Dreamboat". This causes a disruption on the campus and the boat are considering firing the professor because of this. So, Sayre takes off for New York to try to get the network to stop showing his old films, as he considers this an invasion of privacy. There, his very straight- laced daughter (Anne Francis) lets her hair down and has fun for the first time. What about Sayre? What's going to happen with him?
So much about this story is overdone and lacked subtlety. The story idea seems ridiculous when you see it. After all, so what if the professor used to be an actor? How would the entire campus be disrupted by this for more than a day or two? And, how could a school fire a man because he was an actor decades ago? But there is so much more that is overdone in the film. The head of the college (Elsa Lanchester) NOW is so smitten by Sayre. Now having this woman turned on once she realizes who is really is and begin pursuing him could have been cute but it was just way, way overdone here. Having her literally attacking him and sexually harassing him just made me cringe. The rest of the film is pretty much the same--interesting situations where the script and director just overdo it. Everyone and every situation is so extreme here--like a silly live-action 70s Disney film.
Now am I saying the film is bad? No. But it takes a first-rate idea and ruins much of the impact because it lacks subtlety or finesse. A clear misfire that SHOULD have been a delightful little comedy. Oh well, at least it ended well.