Explore the world of “Anthony Adverse” (1936), a big, bloated film adaptation of the sprawling novel. Director Mervyn LeRoy grapples with a plethora of romantic clichés, wicked Dukes, true lovers, and a hero navigating Napoleonic-era challenges.
Anthony Adverse (1936): Navigating Romance, Intrigue, and Epic Challenges
In the cinematic landscape of 1936, “Anthony Adverse” emerged as a big and bloated adaptation of the equally voluminous novel by Harvey Allen. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, this film embarks on a grandiose journey filled with romance, intrigue, and Napoleonic-era challenges, all crammed into a creaking 141-minute narrative.
The plot, extracted from a book that seems to revel in every cliché of Romantic fiction, introduces us to a world of wicked Dukes portrayed with creepy flair by Claude Rains. True lovers find themselves forcibly separated by the aforementioned wicked Duke, leading to the birth of Anthony, our protagonist. Abandoned as a foundling, he is raised by a convent of nuns and adopted by the seemingly benevolent Mr. Bonnyfeather, played by Edmund Gwenn, who is, surprise, actually his grandfather.
As Anthony grows up, the highly handsome and talented Fredric March steps into the role, facing the challenge of infusing the character with depth amid the abundance of plot twists. A notable supporting character, the leeching housekeeper portrayed by Gale Sondergaard, captures attention, earning Sondergaard the first-ever Best Supporting Actress Oscar. However, her character’s arc, despite the accolades, seems distressingly incomplete.
The narrative breathlessly propels Anthony from one sticky situation to another – chasing debtors in Cuba, managing a slave trading post in East Africa – weaving a tale that aims to be a grand yarn but often falls short. The complexity increases as Anthony falls in love with Olivia De Havilland, who takes on the unexpected role of an Italian housemaid, later transforming into an opera star and even becoming Napoleon’s mistress.
While “Anthony Adverse” keeps audiences engaged, it struggles to achieve the epic status it aspires to. Director Mervyn LeRoy grapples with the challenge of condensing the extensive source material, resulting in a film that feels both classy and sober yet slightly disjointed. The plethora of characters, plot twists, and historical settings creates a cinematic experience that is undeniably ambitious but doesn’t fully realize its grand intentions.
In conclusion, “Anthony Adverse” offers a cinematic journey through a world filled with romantic clichés, wicked adversaries, and the tumultuous adventures of its hero. A product of its time, the film showcases the efforts to adapt sprawling novels into the confines of a feature film, capturing both the allure and challenges of such an ambitious undertaking in the Golden Age of Hollywood.
