Because of Him Reviews

Laughton lends a soupcon of class to this otherwise ordinary film about a down-on-her-luck actress who finagles her way into a big-time stage presentation on Broadway. Playwright Tone is not pleased with Durbin's presence in the play and takes his name off the billing. (In reality, the playwright has final approval of the cast, so this could not happen today, according to the rules of the Dramatist's Guild.) She scores with crowds and critics alike, and it winds up for the best with Durbin in Tone's arms. Laughton takes the acting kudos with a performance that would go well with eggs in the morning. Since he is playing an histrionic emoter, we can resist any criticism on his going over the top. It isn't that he gets all the great lines, it's merely that he does the most with what he has. Durbin is in good voice as always and, if she weren't against such a consummate actor in Laughton, she might have fared better. Keep an eye out for Helen Broderick as Nora and then marvel that she is Broderick Crawford's mother. Not much of a resemblance except in the acting genes.