SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Karl Ericsson I don't see any poor people, except the servants of course, when i see this picture. There is idleness all around. Everybody seem to be asking for a good thrashing on there buttocks, preferably engineered by their servants. I guess this is the American way: To believe to be a millionaire - some time in the future until you are too old to believe anything anymore. How else could you explain poor people voting republican? Stupidness knows no boundaries - ask an(y) American. They all look at themselves as temporarily embarrassed millionaires as John Steinbeck put it. Imagine that! How could anyone be so screwed and evil, by the way, then who but a very evil person would like to be rich while others are poor? Well, most of these evil persons are poor anyway, thankfully.

writers_reign It's always a pleasure to finally catch up with a film some 70 years after its initial release and it pleases rather than disappoints. This is just such a film and it's equally pleasurable to see once more the Gainsborough logo with the lady's bowing head. Virtually everyone writing here has mentioned the slightly bizarre relationship between James Mason and Pamela Kellino playing his daughter; nearly all the viewers describe Kellino erroneously as Mason's real life wife to be when they had in fact been married for four years when the film was shot so she was well and truly Pamela Mason by then but for reasons best known to herself used the name of her ex-husband Roy Kellino. At this point in his career Mason's sneer was as much a signature as Richard Widmark's ominous laugh and he keeps it on full throttle throughout whilst chewing all the scenery at hand. In complete contrast is Phyllis Calvert's Goody Two Shoes and these two performances dominate a well above average cast. Melodrama, yes, but nostalgic with it.

hollywoodlegend Phyllis Calvert is lovely and sympathetic and, aside from the children and the dog, is the only one to really cheer for. Although most female viewers will be lured in by James Mason's disturbingly alluring cruelty, they will probably find it quite ugly by the end. Being set in the more modern day, with Mason in a suit and driving a car, instead of a period costume and a horse, makes this story all the more unpleasant. Worst of all is the casting of Mason's real-life wife Pamela as his eldest daughter (!) Unless this was a rare glimpse of him breaking character with the camera rolling, his physical affection with her in their many shared scenes surely indicated incest. Eww! Her performance doesn't give that impression, but then she wasn't much of an actress. Allegedly her character is mature, yet she calls him "Daddy" throughout. His poor on- screen wife and children suffer his endless verbal and emotional abuse. He even threatens the poor dog. The most entertaining scene for me (as an American) was when the young son is playing with a new gun, and Cruel Papa Mason says he MAY have to take that away from him. Unlike the villain you loved to hate in The Man in Grey and The Wicked Lady, here his villain is more like alcoholic pervert uncle-by-marriage who manages to ruin every family gathering. You'll applaud Phyllis Calvert's kind- hearted character but won't find any redeeming value in Mason's villain.

kidboots Was there ever a more sadistic character masked in a disguise of normality than Geoffrey Lee (James Mason) from "They Were Sisters" "From the famous novel by Dorothy Whipple" - that's what the opening credits say. Dorothy Whipple was a popular English writer of the 1930s and 40s. Two of her books were made into films - "They Knew Mr. Knight" and "They Were Sisters".The film begins in 1919 with a dance, establishing the sister's personalities. Lucy (in a role tailor made for top British star, Phyliss Calvert) the sensible, dependable one, Vera (Anne Heywood) the flirtatious one and Charlotte (Dulcie Gray) the quiet sister who lacks confidence. Also at the dance is Geoffrey Lee, a selfish opportunist who at first tries to interest Vera, then turns his attentions to Charlotte. He marries Charlotte but his boorish behaviour at the reception doesn't bode well for their married life.Sensible Brian has always loved Vera (even though she says she doesn't love him) proposes to her and is accepted. Lucy marries William Worth, an architect employed by her father.Eighteen years later the sisters are reunited for a weekend. Charlotte is scared and worn down and Vera has still got her flirty ways. When Charlotte arrives home it is obvious the whole family (except for Margaret (Pamela Kellino) - there is an odd element between father and daughter) are petrified of Geoffrey. He is a sadistic brute who locks Charlotte out of their room and when she arranges to leave, feigns a heart attack to induce her to stay. Charlotte then turns to drink.At a dinner at Vera's house, Margaret finds an admirer and Judith makes friends with Vera's daughter Sarah. The children all have problems from their upbringing and find a haven at the home of Lucy and William.After being beaten by Geoffrey, Charlotte is visited by Lucy, who brings her and the children home for a visit. Stephen brings their dog, Crusoe, even though Geoffrey has forbidden the dog to go. When Geoffrey finds out, the dog is given to the Worth's housekeeper.Vera has her own problems - she is having an affair and this time she is really in love. She plans to run away with him and her husband, who knows about it, plans to give her a divorce. She was to have met Geoffrey, to keep him busy while Lucy secretly brings a doctor to check out Charlotte. Vera misses the appointment and Charlotte tries for the last time to leave him, running straight into the path of an approaching car. Charlotte dies and Lucy creates a sensation at the inquest by exposing Geoffrey and his sadistic ways. The film ends with Lucy and William, who have never been able to have children, looking after the children of Vera and Charlotte.It is a melodramatic film but it keeps you watching. All the stars are excellent in their roles although James Mason and Phyliss Calvert, are, for me, the standouts.Highly Recommended.