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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"Made for Each Other" is an
effective and compelling melodrama that seamlessly
blends the conflicting essences of drama and
comedy into a genuine treat for the heart and
mind.
It stars resident scatterbrain Carole Lombard and
congenial James Stewart as Jane and John Mason, a
couple on a whirlwind romance to nowhere.
Disapproving in-laws intercede in the couple's
idyllic domestic paradise and financial stresses
brought on by a change at work eventually
culminated in a devastating illness.
Director John Cromwell spins a cinematic tapestry
of lives that are the embodiment of those
proverbial ups-and-downs we all encounter in life.
Cromwell's sprite and accessible direction allows
even the sensitive charm and poignancy of
secondary characters like, John's boss, Joseph
Doolittle (Charles Coburn) the chance to shine.
Though the effervescent triumph of the human
spirit is never far from Cromwell's vision for the
film, it's ultimately that old fashioned sentiment
that salvages the whole affair from becoming
overly sweet.
MGM's DVD is impressive. The B&W picture exhibits
a very nicely balanced grayscale with smooth,
solid blacks and very clean whites. Age-related
artifacts are present throughout but do not
distract. Some minor edge enhancement crops up and
there is more than a hint of pixelization in
infrequent spots but overall the picture will
surely not disappoint. The audio is mono but more
than adequate for a film of this vintage. There
are no extras. |
