Touches You

The Age of Commercialism

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

This film bears little resemblance to the 19th century Hawthorne novel (which may be a good thing, since nothing happens for about the first two-thirds of the book). On the other hand, this film could have been a whole lot better. Still, it's a decent way to kill 90 minutes.George Sanders gives his usual performance as a pompous scumbag trying to cheat brother Vincent Price out of the family fortune, even though the family is bankrupt. When their father suddenly dies during an argument with Price, Sanders accuses his brother of murder. The jury convicts Price without deliberating. Ah, the good old days of law and order. Decades pass and Price's sentence is commuted, all while his fiancée, played by Margaret Lindsay, has changed from a beautiful girl to a sour old crone, teased by passing teenagers, as she locks herself away in her grief and loneliness. This hasn't attenuated Price's love for her, though.Sanders and Price spend the film trying to out-ham each other, with neither succeeding. Price does get to sing while pretending to play the harpsichord. There is an unnecessary subplot concocted by the screenwriter involving abolition and Sanders making money off the slave trade. I guess somebody felt his character wasn't repulsive enough.Margaret Lindsay is the most persuasive performer in The House of the Seven Gables. While I know that most film fans will be more interested in the participation of George Sanders and Vincent Price as part of the cast, I think it can be argued that this film may well have been the highlight of her career as an actress. She has a dominant role in a class "A" production and neither of her more illustrious male co-stars dwarf her.The only way to see this other than a chance showing on Turner Classic Movies and the rare illicit posting on youtube is the Universal Vault MOD, and it really is quite gorgeous. I'd suggest it if you can afford it.

Yes Margaret Lindsay appeared to me as Pauline Goddard at first when she played the young Hepsidah ; so much so that I had to check the cast list as I did not know what Margaret Lindsay looked like but had seen Pauline in several early 1940s films.Reading other user reviews it is evident that many have read "The House of the Seven Gables" perhaps in American schools and they therefore noticed when the film and novel diverged.Perhaps it is more familiar to American reviewers but it came to me fresh so I had no preconceived ideas.I immediately noticed the actor who played the father Pyncheon in the first reel was the actor who played the First Lord of the Admiralty in "That Hamilton Woman" (1941) starring Larry & Viv.I agree with the user comment above about unnecessary histrionic melodramatic acting which I find so unconvincing.This was especially true and ironic of the demise in the last reel of George Sanders whose character died in the same way as his father along with the cry of "Murderer" uttered by Hepsidah rather than by the George Sanders' "Jaffrey".There is a Jane Austen like happy ending where there is a double marriage.I have never seen this film before but it held my interest to the end and I awarded it 6/10.

Despite a good cast, this is not a good film. The holes in George Sanders' acting begins to show up. You can see it in other films when he's trying hard to act, but he's not really an actor, he just needs a good script and a good director to get the best out of him. I think he is really lucky to have the career he had. The end scene in this film highlights his limited acting ability.Vincent Price on the other hand is the superior actor and wins out in the end. His career lasts longer, and delivers a more varied performance in this film compared with Sanders. But in spite of his performance this is not a good film for Sanders or Price fans. They did a better job together in 'Green Hell'.

I was absolutely knocked out by Margaret Lindsay's (NOT Lockwood !!!) bravura performance in this film. It is inconceivable that she wasn't nominated, but 1940 was one of the most competitive Best Actress years ever. She ran the gamut from lovely young girl to pinched spinster. Her range was worthy of Bette Davis (with whom she co-starred many times). I loved the film itself also, and was inspired to read the book, which I loved as well. Miss Lindsay should have received more comment from students of good acting in all these years since the film. She definitely gave one of the finest performances I have ever seen by an actress in the movies, and I'm 63 !