Film of the Week: Another Man’s Poison, 1951

There came a point in Bette Davis’ career when she really started munching the scenery—more than usual. This happened just after All About Eve, around the time she married the rather simian Gary Merrill. Now, heavy-handed theatrics notwithstanding, her performances were still enjoyable and I love them. They were just not quite as subtle and nuanced—on the whole—as her earlier work. I think, perhaps, it stemmed from most directors’ inabilities to rein her in. She was larger-than-life, after all. Similarly, Davis never wanted the audience to forget that she was “acting.” And, we’ve never forgotten.

This film, however, is all-too-often forgotten. 1951’s Another Man’s Poison was Davis’ second on-screen pairing with her then-husband, Gary Merrill. Honestly, I find Merrill to be largely insufferable. I don’t know why. I think it’s because he’s somewhat primitive. But, his caveman antics work for this film about an adulterous, murderous, authoress (Davis) who finds herself being manipulated by an escaped prisoner (Merrill).

Another Man’s Poison is remarkable for several reasons. First of all, it’s based on a stage play by Emlyn Williams who often wrote of Welsh subjects and was the author of The Corn is Green which proved to be one of Davis’ greatest mid-career triumphs. Williams also co-stars in the film and substantially rewrote the dreadful screenplay version of his original story. Sadly, the script is still weak and strange, but the actors give it their best shot.

The film was produced by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (former husband of Miss Joan Crawford, thank you very much) and directed by Irving Rapper who had directed Davis in Now, Voyager and should have been able to have had better control of her with this picture, but largely seems to have given up.

There’s a lot of opening and closing of drapes, and swaggering around in jodhpurs by Miss Davis. Merrill grunts a lot. Williams looks typically British and perfect for the part of the meddling doctor/neighbor. Of course, we have a beautifully overwrought scene involving Miss Davis’ character’s favorite horse, “There isn’t a man, woman or child I wouldn’t see dead at my feet…” All-in-all, the cast has taken lemons and made a cool, delightful lemonade which may go down a little bitter at times, but when it’s sweet, it sure hits the spot.

In light of the fact that I could not find a real trailer for the film nor could I find a single clip from the picture which had not been peculiarly sped up (look at YouTube, you’ll see what I mean), here’s a nifty little fan-video, set to music, which at least gives you some visuals from the movie.