The Late George Apley (1947)

By the time The Late George Apley made it to the screen -- after first being adapted to the Broadway stage -- a great deal of the detail and complexity of the title character of John P. Marquand's novel had been left out. While not exactly a caricature, Apley in the film version has become a bit softer and fuzzier, and as a result, the film loses a great deal of its dramatic power. This is especially apparent in the tacked-on and inappropriate happy ending, which negates a great deal of what has gone before. Things are not helped by Ronald Colman; while the actor's performance is a lot of fun, he's not really the right type for Apley. This is also the problem with Peggy Cummins, a capable performer who simply shouldn't have been cast as the daughter. Fortunately, the rest of the cast is much better suited to their roles, with Richard Haydn a wonderful butt of many jokes and Percy Waram stealing his scenes with his amusing cynicism. Overall, Apley is modestly engaging, a minor but amusing effort. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide