Review of Carrie (1952) by Walter M — 23 Aug 2005

[font=Century Gothic]"Carrie"(1952) is based on the novel "Sister Carrie" by Theodore Dreiser. It starts at the turn of the century as Carrie(Jennifer Jones) is leaving Columbia City, Missouri to make it big in Chicago. But the only work that Carrie can find is working long hours in a sweat shop making shoes. After she is fired because of an industrial accident, she goes in tears to Charles Drouet(Eddie Albert) looking for work.(Drouet is a successful salesman who she met on the train from Missouri. But to be honest he's quite a cad.) Carrie agrees to dine with Drouet at a swanky restaurant where she catches the eye of the respected manager, George Hurstwood(Laurence Olivier).[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]"Carrie" is a very poignant movie but never sappy. It is extremely well-acted, especially by Olivier playing one of his most complex characters. This movie is surprisingly mature for the time it was made. It concerns itself with sexism, gender relations and working conditions. Actually, it does come very close to social realism in places. Plus, for a movie set in the past, it is not in the least nostalgiac. The movie's only faults is that it is unrelenting and the ending is not that believable.[/font].