Moviecut—One Desire

source: One Desire

One Desire

Having watched Anne Baxter in 'The Ten Commandments' I wanted to learn more about her track record leading up to 1956 by watching this film. Don't bother. The film fails to provide any interesting characters or an engaging storyline. You could say that it is a bad script, but there is a line where Anne Baxter says: 'The most important thing for a woman is to feel needed.' I'm not even sure if Rock Hudson succeeded in making her feel needed in the film as his character was unsympathetic. The film comes nowhere the quality of 'The Razor's Edge' where Baxter earned her Oscar by playing a sympathetic character. This is a poorly written script which does not make full use of the talents of Baxter and Hudson.

This is the worst example of what the Universal "living room beefcake" Rock Hudson could make in those years. Not the best of the best, as you can guess, and nor the best of Jerry Hopper. Anne Baxter, poor Ann Baxter did her best at least to save the whole, but for my taste could not make it. But if you crave for the atmosphere of this fifties era, so you can spend a couple of hours watching it.

Ross Hunter produced some of the glossiest, tearful movies of the 50s and 60s and ONE DESIRE included. IMITATION OF LIFE, BACK STREET and many many more. Rock Hudson is caught between the love of two women, one who genuinely loves him and the other who tricks him into marriage. Nice to see a very young Natalie Wood also in the cast. All of the cast is well suited. I Chadwick never seen this movie before and finally found it on DVD. Very good print although color a little faded.

Look at Eve Harrington now! Oscar-winner Anne Baxter is marvelous in this movie, in which she plays Tacey, a gambling hall hostess who tries to go straight. She falls in love with gambler Clint Saunders (nicely played by Rock Hudson), and starts life anew with him and his brother. Julie Adams plays the bad girl who steals Clint away to the hilt. Natalie Wood gives an endearing performance as Seely, an orphan who also lives with Clint and Tacey. This is a sadly underrated film which showcases the talents of some of Hollywood's most cherished stars.

Anne Baxter really delivers as a dance hall queen who gives everything up to pursue boyfriend Clint Saunders to a booming Colorado town. On the way, she not only raises Clint's kid brother, she rears Ceilie, beautifully played by Natalie Wood. How is her kindness rewarded? She loses both children and ultimately Clint to the senator's daughter, who is viciously played by Julie Adams, the former Mrs. Ray Danton. Adams steals the picture as a conniving woman who will stop at nothing to get and keep Saunders. The exciting ending with the underlying message of evil to him (her) who does evil is wonderful. A **** film in every sense of the word.