One Sunday Afternoon

Director: Stephen Roberts, Stephen R. Roberts Stephen Roberts

Overview

Gary Cooper is a small town dentist dissatisfied with his lot. Though married to the lovely and affectionate Frances Fuller, Cooper still carries a torch for his former sweetheart, Fay Wray. Years earlier, Cooper had lost Wray to his old friend Neil Hamilton, and is consumed with the desire to get even with his rival. The now-wealthy Hamilton comes to visit Cooper, with Wray in tow. Cooper then seeks to rekindle his old romance. Based on the stage play by James Hagan (which starred Lloyd Nolan on Broadway), One Sunday Afternoon was remade with James Cagney as Strawberry Blonde (41), then reworked as a musical with Dennis Morgan under its original title in 1948.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/02/2009
UPC:	0883316168042
Original Release:	1933
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	45,433

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Gary Cooper	Biff Grimes
Fay Wray	Virginia Brush
Neil Hamilton	Hugo Barnstead
Frances Fuller	Amy Lind
Roscoe Karns	Snappy Downer
Jane Darwell	Mrs. Lind
Clara Blandick	Mrs. Brush
Sam Hardy	Dr. Startzman
Harry Schultz	Schneider
James Burtis	Dink Hoops,Dink Hoops
A.S. Byron	Foreman,Foreman
Jack Clifford	Watchman
Johnny St. Clair	Man

Technical Credits

Grover Jones

William Slavens McNutt

Stephen Roberts	Director,Director
Grover Jones	Screenwriter
William Slavens McNutt	Screenwriter
James Hagan	Playwright
Louis D. Lighton	Producer
Harry D. Mills	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

One Sunday Afternoon is a minor but pleasing film in the Gary Cooper canon. Based upon a hit play of the time, it's a very stagebound piece, particularly in the first half. Neither the director nor the screenwriters seem to have worked very hard to find the cinema in the early section, preferring to film the dialogue fairly straight and with little visual flourish. This isn't all to the bad, as the dialogue is for the most part convincing; while it's a tad artificial, it doesn't come across as stilted or groan-inducing. The creators find their "movie feet" a bit later in the game, and from then things are fine on that front. Cooper is very good, but the part is not a natural for him. He's a bit too rural in nature for the part; more importantly, he can't quite bring himself to be as "damaged" as the character should be. Despite the fact that he does some fairly low things, the character never comes across with the sense of desperation and revenge that's required. Still, Cooper's star presence and skill make sup for the flaw. Fay Wray is also a bit miscast, although she looks heavenly. Neil Hamilton is fine and Frances Fuller quite good, and there's also worthy support from Roscoe Karns, Jane Darwell and Clara Blandick. While not a classic, Sunday is an interesting little side trip for Cooper.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler