Carrie (VHS, 1991)

A little film history needs to be clarified before going into this film's plot. During Hollywood's "Golden Era" (roughly, before, during & just after the mid-20th century, there were several handfuls of truly great screen actors (female & male ones). Bette Davis was right at the top of that list having already won 2 Oscars & being nominated for 5 in a row as a leading lady in Oscar winning films by Oscar-winning directors. Director William Wyler, was among the best directors of that era. Davis and Wyler were an item as well as an Oscar-winning team. Davis credited Wyler for her Oscar-winning performance in "Jezebel," saying that Wyler knew how to bring out the best performances from actors.

That said, there's little wonder why Sir Laurence Olivier gave such a stellar performance, since Wm. Wyler was the director of "Carrie," (1952). Perhaps Wyler's greatest achievement was having the skill to direct the great actors with such finese that he helped to hone in upon their skills in order to draw out their finest performances ever. That's one of the most important jobs of a film director.

Now to this film's plot: It's around 1900. Carrie Meeber (gorgeous Jennifer Jones), a young & naive farm girl from Columbia Clay, Missouri, boards a train to Chicago, Illinois with the hope of making a better life for herself after joining her elder sister, Minnie (Jacqueline de Wit), in the windy city. On the train to Chicago, Carrie meets a fellow traveler, Charles Drouet (Eddie Albert), a fabric salesman who leaves her with his business card.

After reaching her destination, Carrie's employed for peanuts in a bleak factory as a worker who sews shoes, until she's fired after injuring her finger. Eager to find another job, Carrie calls upon Drouet, who takes her out to dinner at Fitzgerald's, the most posh restaurant in Chicago, which is managed by married, dashing, middle-age George Hurstwood (Sir Laurence Olivier).

Believing she's got no better options, Carrie clings to & moves in with Drouet becoming his lover. In the meantime, Hurstwood falls head over heels in love with Carrie. Since Hurstwood's smitten state isn't a secret, Hurstwood's wife, Julie (Miriam Hopkins), & boss Mr. Fitzgerald, the restaurant's owner (Basil Ruysdael), pull out all the financial stops to make him forget about Carrie. But, Hurstwood cannot.

So, he embezzles a small fortune from Fitzgerald's, leaves his wife with their two children & everything they own; then, flees with Carrie to build their life together in New York. However, Hurstwood's sordid past dogs his heels & threatens to ruin his life with the younger woman he truly loves-a woman who becomes quiet a successful actress.

Sir Laurence was made for this role & Wm. Wyler was made to direct him! The chemistry between Olivier & Jones is also spot on; plus, they make such an attractive couple. What's interesting is how Olivier & Jones' characters switch statuses. Olivier portrays a debonair, married, successful businessman who could lose everything for the love of a gorgeous younger woman. Olivier's transformaton from one status to another is so convincing, so empassioned & perfectly played that this is incontrovertibly his very best performance. I am certainly not alone in that opinion~