I have little interest in the affair between William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies. However, I do enjoy Robert Mitchum films and decided to watch this, even if I didn't care about this power couple....as it's hard to really care about them for so many reasons...such as Hearst's ruthlessness, adultery, alcoholism and more.
Despite the couple not being folks I'd care to spend time with, the film is entertaining and interesting...and also very much a broad overview of their lives together. In fact, this is my biggest complaint....as the pair were together for decades but the film never gives you any sense of this and misses much of their lives together. It really should have been a miniseries, not a 94 minute film. It's like watching a movie about Germany or the 19th century....there's just too much material and what you get is a bit sketchy. Also, no attempt was made to make Hearst (Robert Mitchum) or Davies (Virginia Madsen) look like they aged at all during the film...whereas in real life, both naturally aged. Hearst got greyer and Davies put on some pounds. In this sense, the film was disappointing as some makeup and prosthetics seemed oddly absent.
Overall, a mildly interesting overview of their lives together...but not deep enough or well made enough to make it anything other than a time-passer. The actors tried their best but the film needed more.
Despite the couple not being folks I'd care to spend time with, the film is entertaining and interesting...and also very much a broad overview of their lives together. In fact, this is my biggest complaint....as the pair were together for decades but the film never gives you any sense of this and misses much of their lives together. It really should have been a miniseries, not a 94 minute film. It's like watching a movie about Germany or the 19th century....there's just too much material and what you get is a bit sketchy. Also, no attempt was made to make Hearst (Robert Mitchum) or Davies (Virginia Madsen) look like they aged at all during the film...whereas in real life, both naturally aged. Hearst got greyer and Davies put on some pounds. In this sense, the film was disappointing as some makeup and prosthetics seemed oddly absent.
Overall, a mildly interesting overview of their lives together...but not deep enough or well made enough to make it anything other than a time-passer. The actors tried their best but the film needed more.