Word: miscasts
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Part of the trouble with this movie is Kim Novak. This is not to say that Miss Novak is the world's worst actress, but only that she is miscast in any role requiring dialogue. This would not be a serious fault if she were really beautiful. Sinatra drops Rita, his meal-ticket, for Kim's virginal, Alburquerque wholesomeness. The movie does not explain why he would want to commit such an ironically self-defeating...
Unfortunately, Susan Strasberg, the third star, seems a mere satellite. She is miscast, and downright dull, speaking in a disagreeable adolescent voice that fits Anne Frank perfectly, but adds little brightness to Anouilh. Fortunately, there are some extremely amusing supporting actors. Glenn Anders is ideal as the glorious Lord Hector, and Sig Arno serves his role as a timeless headwaiter with a skillful dash of farce...
...usually large and knobby with muscles. They are almost always male, though decorative females may be taken along for plot purposes. According to a symposium of psychologists which met in New York last week to discuss the public's notions about space flight, this athlete-type spaceman is miscast for the part. Every ounce of weight and every cubic inch of volume will be precious on a spaceship. Big, strong crewmen will not be welcome. Only brains to act as computers will be needed, plus an absolute minimum of supporting tissue...
Despite the serious overtones, the play is above all comedy, which is what evidently escaped the Tufts' players. The cast was unfortunately headed by Fred Blais, who, miscast as Knock, turned in a dismal performance. While maintaining the Doctor's mock-solemnity, he not only failed to imbue him with the necessary dynamism and authority, but utterly lacked Knock's resourcefulness, wit, and ability to manipulate people. His awkward use of medical instruments, moreover, was not calculated to convince the audience that he was more than a bungler, which Knock most emphatically...
...Joan is Preminger's Joan-a charming, shrinking young girl named Jean Seberg, aged 18, whom the director "discovered," according to the picture's panting publicity, in the vicinity of Marshalltown, Iowa. Actress Seberg, with the advantage of youth, the disadvantage of inexperience, is drastically miscast. Shaw's Joan is a chunk of hard brown bread, dipped in the red wine of battle and devoured by ravenous angels. Actress Seberg, by physique and disposition, is the sort of honey bun that drugstore desperadoes like to nibble with their milk shakes...