Tonight’s treat was TIGHT SPOT (1955), starring Ginger Rogers, the venerable Edward G. Robinson (he of the marvelously lived-in face), and Brian Keith. Initially, I couldn’t stand Ginger’s character, a cracking wise ditz on vacation from her home in the state penitentiary, nor did she really rise above her initial station in the life of the movie; yet, she rather grew on me, despite her wretched choice in hair styles, as the screenwriter gifted her with some excellent lines; her sallies at Mr. Keith’s romantic defenses were both charming and believable.
Mr. Keith also did well, starting from a somewhat stereotypical cop portrayal to copping to a few spritely lines of his own, not to mention the obligatory dashes to save the distressed damsel from a horrible end at the machinations of a mobster, played by Lorne Greene, who does not relish a return to his homeland. Alas, Greene was merely in a supporting role and did not have the opportunity to inflict an entire barrage of brooding evil upon his unsuspecting audience; we merely caught glimpses of a sordid underworld.
And Robinson. What more need to be said, than he brings gravitas not only to his roles, but to his jowls? He should be a lesson that an actor need not be exceedingly pretty to be on the screen. (Random thought process: can you imagine Edward G. Robinson in the title role of Disney’s recent flop, JOHN CARTER? Granted, he’d be too short – or would he? I’m reminded of a lecture I once attended concerning the play Cyrano de Bergerac, and how the lecturer once saw a version featuring a shorter, somewhat plump actor – and thought it was most memorable. In any event, I know I wouldn’t have grit my teeth every time he was on the screen. And smooching with Dejah … !)
As to the movie itself, we had planned to sample it only, and found ourselves watching the entire production instead. Now, in all verity, we did have cats planted firmly in our laps, so to some extent we were merely playing to their vanities; but, indeed, we enjoyed the movie, the death of Willoughby, the gradual learning process of Rogers, the heroism of Keith, and the irascibility of Robinson; such was the chemistry that we found them believable – and worth watching.
