Movies:
The Cobweb
- Rating:
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Type: Satire
- Themes: Doctors and Patients
- Director: Vincente Minnelli
- Main Cast: Richard Widmark, Lauren Bacall, Charles Boyer, Gloria Grahame, Lillian Gish
- Release Year: 1955
- Country: US
- Run Time: 125 minutes
Plot
William Gibson's novel The Cobweb was brought to the screen by MGM with an impressive, hand-picked cast. Richard Widmark plays the head of a posh psychiatric clinic. Widmark's wife Gloria Grahame jockeys for the honor of selecting new drapes for the hospital's library. One wouldn't think that such a trivial decision would spark so much melodrama; but thanks to those drapes, we are allowed to probe the disturbed psyches of martinet business affairs director Lillian Gish, philandering doctor Charles Boyer, lonely activities director Lauren Bacall, and suicidal patient John Kerr. Oscar Levant, who spent most of his life in and out of "little white rooms", is ideally cast as a neurotic musician, while Fay Wray has a superb cameo as Boyer's long-suffering wife. Cobweb served as the screen debuts for both John Kerr and Susan Strasberg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideReview
The Cobweb is a film that seems to provoke wildly varying reactions from many people. There are those who consider it a neglected near-masterwork, certainly not a true classic, but a film that has a bounty of riches. Others find it an insipid and often trying melodrama, with performances that tend to go too far over the top. Those who favor the former view agree that the story is too melodramatic, but they feel that the film is really an exercise in form over content -- that director Vincente Minnelli has filmed the entire thing as if it were a musical, lacking only actual songs, and that if viewed in this light, the extreme emotions, the sudden outbursts, and the quiet reflections take on a great fascination. Those who dislike the film dismiss this, contending that even if it is rue, it isn't enough to make up for the superficial characterizations and lack of character depth. About the only thing the two sides can agree on is that Lillian Gish's change-of-pace performance is a delight to watch, that Fay Wray is quite touching in her brief role, and that Minnelli has photographed the film with his usual style and visual flair. On the whole, The Cobweb is worth watching, if for no other reason than to see which camp you fall into. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie GuideCast
- Richard Widmark - Dr. Stewart McIver
- Lauren Bacall - Meg Faversen Rinehart
- Charles Boyer - Dr. Douglas N. Devanal
- Gloria Grahame - Karen McIver
- Lillian Gish - Victoria Inch
John Kerr - Steven W. Holte; Susan Strasberg - Sue Brett; Oscar Levant - Mr. Capp; Tommy Rettig - Mark; Paul Stewart - Dr. Otto Wolff; Jarma Lewis - Lois DeMuth; Adele Jergens - Miss Cobb; Edgar Stehli - Mr. Holcomb; Sandy Descher - Rosemary; Bert Freed - Abe Irwin; Mabel Albertson - Regina Mitchell-Smythe; Fay Wray - Edna Devanal; Oliver Blake - Curly; Olive Carey - Mrs. O'Brien; Eve McVeagh - Shirley; Virginia Christine - Sally; Jan Arvan - Mr. Appleton; Ruth Clifford - Mrs. Jenkins; Myra Marsh - Miss Gavney; James Westerfield - James Petlee; Marjorie Bennett - Sadie; Stuart Holmes - Mr. Wictz; Dayton Lummis
