Good Sam * (1948, Gary Cooper, Ann Sheridan, Ray Collins) – Classic Movie Review 9743

Director Leo McCarey’s 1948 romantic comedy drama Good Sam stars Gary Cooper as the Good Sam(aritan) Clayton of the title, who helps too many people and ends up penniless, unable to help his own family, in this very so-so piece, a real disappointment especially considering the credentials.

There are a few amusements in the sentimental, flat script, but you just don’t believe in it or in Cooper’s colourless performance. Ann Sheridan is quite sharp, though, as Cooper’s wife Lu. Probably producer-director-co-author McCarey is to blame for the languid film’s failure.

The idea is intriguing but the film is a dud. Post-production jitters, resulting in much cutting, deleted scenes and performances, probably haven’t helped (20 actors had their scenes deleted).

Despite the over-optimistic sell line ‘He’ll take the whole world and you to his heart’, the film was a critical and commercial flop. Sheridan thought the failure was down to the stars having no romantic chemistry.

Also in the cast are Ray Collins as the Reverend Daniels, Edmund Lowe, Clinton Sundberg, Joan Lorring, Ruth Roman, Minerva Urecal, Louise Beavers, Dick Ross, Lora Lee Michel, Bobby Dolan Jr, Matt Moore, Netta Packer, Carol Stevens, Todd Karns, Irving Bacon, William Frawley, Harry Hayden, Ruth Brennan, Pat Davis, Jack Gargan, Ida Moore, Roger Moore (US actor 1900–1999), Anne O’Neal, Garry Owen, Almira Sessions and Dick Wessel.

The screenplay is by Ken Englund based on the story by Leo McCarey and John D Klorer.

It was shot from August to October 1947 at RKO Studios, 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles.

It originally ran 128 minutes but was cut to 114 minutes.

Good Sam is directed by Leo McCarey, runs 114 minutes, is made by Rainbow Productions, is released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Ken Englund, based on the story by Leo McCarey and John D Klorer, is shot in black and white by George Barnes, is produced by Leo McCarey, is scored by Robert Emmett Dolan, and is designed by John B Goodman.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9743

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