Written on the Wind (1956)

Directed by Douglas Sirk. Starring Rock Hudson, Dorothy Malone, Robert Stack, Lauren Bacall, Robert Keith, Grant Williams, Robert J. Wilke, Edward Platt.

One of Sirk’s better melodramas, this may still be little more than a trashy, garishly-hued soaper, but at least it’s more diverting than tedious (though it adeptly covers both of those bases). The spoiled kin of a Texas oil baron (Keith) make life miserable for everyone around them; there are scandalous infatuations, bar fights, nymphomania, a miscarriage, accidental murder, catty slaps, a low sperm count diagnosis, alcoholism, tearful courtroom confessions, thrown drinks, suggested incest, not necessarily in that order. The “normal” leads (Hudson, Bacall) are practically comatose compared to the hysteria of those siblings; Malone overacts outrageously, her exaggerated gestures during a lakeside reminiscence appearing as if they could have been pulled from sketch comedy (the lack of a laugh track just makes her look even sillier)—that she won an Academy Award for this nonsense actually fits into the absurdity of this whole affair—and even the traditionally inexpressive Stack lets loose at times, especially during a climactic confrontation while wielding a loaded gun. Entirely bereft of logic and decorum, but don’t be surprised if it endears through unabashed gusto.

66/100