That Kind of Woman *** (1959, Sophia Loren, Tab Hunter, Jack Warden, George Sanders, Barbara Nichols, Keenan Wynn) – Classic Movie Review 8132

Director Sidney Lumet’s 1959 drama That Kind of Woman is the soapy melodramatic romantic tale of a society woman, Kay (Sophia Loren), giving up the high life with her wealthy industrialist fancy man A L (George Sanders) to date a paratrooper soldier, Red (Tab Hunter), whom she meets in a Miami-New York train bar during the Second World War in June 1944.

Happily, on their overnight train from Miami to New York, Red’s mate George Kelly (Jack Warden) pairs off with Kay’s pal Jane (Barbara Nichols). 

A considerable combination of talents comes to little in this sticky amalgam of some tacky old romantic clichés, though there is some charm to be found in the story, and the attractive, appealing cast of players all in their prime is some very considerable compensation.

That Kind of Woman is the second remake of the 1928 part talkie The Shopworn Angel, remade as the 1938 classic The Shopworn Angel, but here directed by rising star Lumet, ably assisted by sometime collaborator and cinematographer Boris Kaufman, shooting in black and white.

It is a showcase for top billed star Loren, who dominates the picture produced by her husband Carlo Ponti, to leave the handsome Hunter looking somewhat bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Nevertheless, Hunter does good work and it was his favourite of all the films in which he starred. 

A talented technical crew and supporting cast work hard to please even if they are hardly stretched by this affable but weakly plotted tale. The screenplay is by Walter Bernstein, based on a story by Robert Lowry.

Also in the cast are Keenan Wynn, Beatrice Arthur, Stephen Bolster and Peter R J Deyell.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 8132

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7273

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com