Tockinit not horrible nor great

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Cunninghamolga This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

mark.waltz Here's the chance to see what I've been waiting for for years: Kay Francis singing (obviously dubbed) "Home on the Range" in an operatic voice to Edward G. Robinson. That standard American ditty is heard over the opening credits, and later on when Robinson requests it. It becomes their love theme, albeit a silly one, but somehow it adds charm to this saga of a meat baron's life from taking over the family business to his later years after he's pretty much lost everything and ended up like Michael Corleone in "The Godfather Part III": All alone.Robinson as usual is commanding, although this is very similar in nature to his 1932 drama "Silver Dollar" and another 1933 Warner Brothers film about a wealthy man's rise and later disappointments, "The World Changes", with Paul Muni. His character's rise is often sketchy, as the film focuses on the various scandals that plague his years in the business, including his relationship with his pretty wife, Genevieve Tobin, who is obviously shallow at the start and never completely stands by her man. She loses his love to opera singer Francis who is faithful to him for years, but suddenly leaves him for another man, turning him cold and bitter and ruthless in his quest for power.There are political and historical references in this film with passing mentions of the Spanish/American War, McKinley's shooting (which eventually lead to Teddy Roosevelt becoming president and fighting the wealthy barons like Robinson's) and World War I. This was a Warner Brothers "A" picture running in at 90 minutes, so there's plenty of time for various details to be explored, but sometimes it does seem to be missing some important ones to fully explain everything which was going on at the time this took place. Robinson's character remains consistent in his manner and desires, often torn so his performance is one that deserves re-discovery.As for the two women, they couldn't be any more different. When first seen, the beautiful blonde Tobin is sitting in her fancy wagon in the middle of the mud in the Chicago slums, and Robinson quickly charms her with his memories of their childhood friendship. But she quickly reveals to the viewer that she never really loved Robinson and only married him for status, eventually becoming a bitter older woman still beautiful but the hatred in her displayed on her soulless face. She reminded me of Miriam Hopkins in the film version of Theodore Dreissler's "Carrie" without the spitting venom.The always ravishing Kay Francis is the true strength behind Robinson's character, prompting him to go after what he truly wants and encouraging him to be ruthless in getting it, something she is obviously doing in her efforts to become an A class opera star. I had first thought that Francis was the gypsy girl who sings to Robinson as he stands on his balcony, later returning as a hopeful star to be, but my research in the credits proved that to be incorrect. So the women in Robinson's life are far from perfect, far from completely loyal, and this is much more realistic than the many films which had the long-suffering wife willing to put up with all sorts of trauma as her husband neglected her for success. A far from flawless film, this is aided in its lavish presentation and the performances by the three stars plus a gallery of familiar faces in the supporting cast.

museumofdave What a peculiar (but often fascinating!) film! The title has a little to do with Robinson's character, but it really isn't a woman he loves, but the meat-packing business! Eddie G., who wants to make the world more artistic and to clean up the Chicago slums, inherits an unsavory but highly successful business from his father, and makes an attempt to break away from corporate alliances--enter Kay Francis, in one of her vamp roles, this time as an opera singer aiming for the top European houses, but needing a little cash infusion to get there--she seduces the good EGR by sitting down at the piano--and suddenly warbles a contralto version of "Home On The Range"! No Tosca, no Mimi, no Traviata--this overdressed little flower brims blooms with the Western tune a total of three times--and it becomes an ironic interlude throughout the film--Robinson also attempts to capture the world food market, even buys cattle instead of just canning it! (Some echoes of Upton Sinclair feeds plot complications).For early fans of Mr. Robinson and Our Kay, this is compelling fun, and frequently details fascinating turns of historical event--Teddy Roosevelt makes a personal appearance and WWI turns the world upside down. For those expecting the powerful one-note (but perhaps less well-rounded) characterizations which Robinson was often gave, there may be surprises as he ages--and hides out in another country. For others, this is a historical curiosity peopled with familiar early First National Faces.

xerses13 Seldom seen even on TCM are a series of Edward G. Robinson (E.G.R.) films made at WARNER BROTHERS (W.B.) from 1931 too 1934, with loan-outs to other Major Studios. Many featured themes of rags to riches to rags, with I LOVED A WOMEN (1934) as one such effort.E.G.R, John Mansfield Hayden, scion of wealthy Chicago Meat-Packer returns from Greece to take over the business after his Father dies. Not really cut out for it he marries competitors daughter Martha Lane (Genevieve Tobin). Then meets his muse in aspiring opera singer Laura McDonald (Kay Francis). Now with confidence he builds a 'Empire of Meat' and if it means selling a defective product to the U.S. Army, so be it. In the end he is betrayed by his own ambition and lover. Living in exile in Greece (with his ill gotten gains) he escapes indictment, but his mind goes to the point he has no grasp of reality or his former love.This story is right out of one of Socialist Upton Sinclair's muck-raking novels. THE JUNGLE (1906) being a prime example of the type. E.G.R. gives it his usual effort and is quite convincing as a turn of Century (19th/20th) 'Robber Baron'! Giving a performance the equal of Warren William, who usually filled that slot at the W.B. of the ruthless 'Business Tycoon'. Fine supporting cast backs him up and film runs in a crisp 90" so will not tax the modern audience. Watch it and be entertained.

blanche-2 "I Loved a Woman" is a 1933 film starring Edward G. Robinson and Kaye Francis. It's the story of an art-lover in the Victorian era whose family is in the meat-packing business in Chicago. With his father's death, John Hayden cuts his trip to Greece short to go home and take over the company. A humanitarian, he is interested in making life better for the employees by cleaning up the packing house district where the employees live, and he is not interested in the cut-rate practices of his competitors. He meets and falls in love with the pretty Martha Lane, whose father is just such a competitor and in need of money. Martha, too, is interested in causes. She and John marry, but they grow apart as she becomes more practical. John is approached by an aspiring opera singer Laura McDonald (Francis) who wants him to back her studies; he agrees, and he falls in love with her. Laura, however, is ruthless and convinces John that he must be, too. He goes against everything he ever believed in to put his company back on top with disastrous results.I have to admit I was less impressed with this film than the first person who commented. First of all, with all of the beautiful operatic music in the world, why is the only song Laura sings "Home on the Range" - many times? Okay, I get the cattle theme but it was too much. And I didn't understand John suddenly becoming this ruthless man willing to send to soldiers overseas bad meat with fillers and other substances. Laura gives him one little lecture, and he turns into a third world dictator.Robinson is very good, though he and Francis wear a lot of makeup. The characters, however, weren't especially likable or sympathetic. John does have the audience's sympathy at the beginning and at the very end, where Robinson's acting really stood out.