Exquisitely photographed in delicate colors, both in the studio and on real locations, and supported by a lushly romantic music score by Bernard Herrmann, plus some very appropriate period sets and costumes, this minor Betty Smith romance (not a patch on "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn") comes across very effectively, despite the very moderate appeal of its cast. Admittedly, the Yvette Mimieux character is the main focus of attention and she does come across fairly effectively, but Richard Chamberlain often seems merely boorish and most definitely lacking the sort of charm that might appeal to a girl like Annie. The support players are likewise hampered by very one-dimensional writing. Director Alex Segal makes the most of his period set-pieces, but his handling of the dialogue scenes is no more than capably routine – and the movie is very dialogue bound. You would think it was based on a stage play, there are so many big speeches! But the music score and the lush photography make up for a lot. Admittedly, the screenplay writers know all about Judaism, but haven't a clue what Roman Catholicism is all about. The fact that the couple get re-married at the local Community Church would have been regarded by Rome as a far, far greater sin than the original offense of getting married at the Registry Office!
Review of Joy in the Morning
