A great cast, headed by Pat O'Brien, is trapped in a preposterous and unconvincing story in which all the characters are actually caricatures or types. Despite his second billing, Bogie has only a small role, though it's an important one. Maybe he was sulking, but he's nowhere near as convincing as usual. Some movie historians have affirmed that Jack Warner was deliberately trying to induce Bogart to break his contract by casting him in roles he knew the actor would despise. Bogie himself would later affirm that "the film was terrible, but Pat was very good. In fact, Pat was never bad." As usual, Bogie is right on the ball. O'Brien is most impressive, particularly in the early part of the film where he is required to be obnoxious. The story gets pretty sticky and sentimental later on, but comparatively restrained performances by Frieda Inescort and Sybill Jason, prevent it from going completely overboard. Ann Sheridan has a small role and is none too attractively costumed. Although it's by no means a typical assignment, William Dieterle's direction has pace and his crowd scenes are handled with a sharp eye for detail and atmosphere. The punchy editing in the courtroom scene is a standout.
Review of The Great O'Malley
