Sometimes it happens that a person is endlessly pursued by continuous failures that hang over him, like some kind of curse. However, it is necessary to start the white stripe, there are evil people who are trying in every way to interfere with the happiness of this person. But, despite everything, a person should not give up and, on the contrary, zealously fight for his happiness and place in life. In my opinion, this idea is the basis of the feature film “Antoni the Loser”.
Synopsis After a failed attempt to escape with her lover from her despotic husband Don Louis, Maria Bonnifiter has a boy, whom Don Louis gives to a monastery. Years pass, and the boy, who received the name Anthony, without suspecting anything, is brought up in the house of his grandfather - the father of Anthony Maria, who died at birth. But when the housekeeper Faith learns about the relationship of Anthony and Mr. Bonnifiter, she, dreaming of getting the inheritance of the owner, with the help of Don Louis, tries to do everything possible to get rid of Anthony once and for all.
Despite the fact that the film is a classic Hollywood melodrama, it is distinguished by a truly talented actor. First of all, I would like to mention the play of Frederick March, who played the role of Anthony Edvers, whose life was filled with unexpected and not always pleasant turns, but he did not give up, and continued to fight for the right cause. I was also impressed by Edmund Gwenn’s play as Anthony’s grandfather, who until the last hid from his grandson that he was his own grandfather to protect him from evil people. Finally, it should be noted the brilliant play of Gail Sondergaard as the housekeeper Faith, a hypocritical and cunning woman who knows neither pity, nor conscience, nor compassion for greed and the desire for profit.
Personally, I am familiar with the work of director Mervyn LeRoy in films like Johnny Iger and Mr. Roberts, which have more romantic overtones than psychological or social. “Anthony the Loser” was no exception, as its plot and atmosphere, more like a soap opera than a serious historical film. However, despite the banality, the movie still looks with interest, because the viewer is still interested to know how the story of Anthony Edvers will end, who really had to go through fire, water and copper pipes.
In terms of script, the film is as simple as the whole. The story begins a few years before his birth, when his mother Marie, the wife of the cruel Don Louis, tries to escape with her lover Denis, who is killed by Louis in a duel. After a while, the son of Maria and Denis Anthony appears, who first turns out to be in the monastery, and in his pre-adolescence he turns out to be in the upbringing of his own grandfather, about which the truth learns only after many years. We also see a love story between Anthony and an Italian girl, Angela, who becomes an opera singer, and then a noble lady who became a favorite of Napoleon Bonaparte himself. Whether they will be together or not, only you will know it after watching.
Result I think many viewers will agree with me that "Antoni the Loser" is an amateur film. I cannot say that he is bad, boring and uninteresting. On the contrary, it looks very fascinating. Just the story played out in the picture, so painfully familiar that you just can not take what you see seriously. But in any case, to judge you, dear viewers!
7 out of 10