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      Kings Row

      Released Apr 18, 1942 2 hr. 7 min. Drama List
      100% 17 Reviews Tomatometer 78% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score In the 1890s, friends from both sides of the tracks in the village of Kings Row look for love despite the barriers of family and class. Aspiring doctor Parris Mitchell (Robert Cummings) loves the mysterious Cassandra Tower (Betty Field), despite her dark family secrets. Drake McHugh (Ronald Reagan) loses his trust fund and must go to work, but when his legs are amputated after an accident, his depression colors his relationship with feisty working-class girl Randy Monaghan (Ann Sheridan). Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Nov 21 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      huck d When you think of Ronald Reagan movies, campy affairs like Bedtime for Bonzo come to mind, which is a tragedy, because here in King's Row, Reagan delivers a masterclass in acting that catapulted him to stardom — "where's the rest of me" — but just briefly. Immediately after, Reagan was drafted. With poor eye site but great communication skills, he served for 4 years producing 400 military training videos. The scope and substance of King's Row powerfully covers characters you profoundly care about growing up in the cauldron of a small town seething with wickedness, secrets, and gossip, but redeemed by love, honor, and determination. Watching King's Row, like many of the movies from this time, makes obvious just how badly the art of movie making has fallen since it's golden era. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/08/23 Full Review David K The veneer of small-town America. That legendary place in the American psyche that doesn't really exist. Never really existed. This film hits on that, but its failure in the end is the optimistic ending that too often wraps up social-conscience films made during the Breen era. But, it's worth the time if for no other reason than Ronald Reagan's appearance - his best role. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/15/23 Full Review Rico S Excellent movie for those who desire to understand human nature and cause and effect human behaviors As intense as any classic suspense thriller ever made, King's Row kept me bouncing through emotional ups and downs, and I consider myself to be more of a "manly man" Being it's an early 1940s movie, it has the musical score and a few typically cheesy 🧀 scenes that were commonly used in 40s films If we're employing a 1 to 10 scale on quality ...... I rate this movie at 10+ stars I recommend this movie to everyone/anyone I know who desires to understand themselves and their families/friends from a deeper perspective Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/04/22 Full Review Ken R Could American cinematic achievement get too much better than this 40's masterpiece? With its striking production design by William Cameron Menzies, all captured in gloriously lit B/W by master director of photography James Wong Howe - under solid direction by Sam Wood. A string of handpicked performers then brings Henry Bellamann's strong human story to life. Now add Australian-born screenplay writer Casey Robinson's adaptation that sparkles from beginning to end - analyzing the fascinating and complex characters, even perhaps, managing to tidy up some situations. This unique examination of the pioneering days of Psychology, set in a small rural American town - follows the lives of an intriguing mix of diverse characters, whose lives intertwine dramatically through their youth into adulthood. Robert Cummings gives an in-depth portrayal as Paris Mitchell, being tutored by the darkly brooding Dr Tower (Claude Rains as masterful as ever). Betty Field never looked more becoming as the troubled Cassandra, Dr Tower's closely guarded daughter. Ronald Reagan, possibly one of the USA's better Presidents (regardless of the naysayers) is given a rare worthy role as Paris's friend Drake. The marvelous late starter, Harry Davenport (who never fails to deliver) as Colonel Skeffington the town's legal adviser, there's also versatile Charles Coburn powerful as the menacing Dr Gordon. Everyone in adult roles gives unforgettable performances, and while some of the children may be patchy in the early section, the adults more than make up for it. A big expansive score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold lives up to his descriptive style delivering musical perfection. With a story covering a wide time frame, it could seem episodic to some but this represents Hollywood in its finest years. Great Ending. Highly recommended to purists seeking Noir filmmaking at its peak. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/04/22 Full Review david l Kings Row is this insane 1942 Oscar-nominated melodrama that was undoubtedly very soapy in its melodramatic elements and toned down in the inherent darkness of its plot, but it's still a surprisingly grim, brutal tale with an especially powerful, moving ending. It's an undeniably interesting movie to watch despite its overwhelming number of twists and turns. It's also memorable for featuring the best role in Ronald Reagan's career. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Love this movie...lots of heart! Powerful ending. Easy to watch multiple times. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Otis Ferguson The New Republic In spite of overlength, [Kings Row] has a nice apportionment of dramatic qualities. Feb 18, 2022 Full Review James Agee TIME Magazine Potent, artful cinema. Feb 27, 2018 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins While several of the lesser ideas, such as pity and revenge, aren't demonstrated with as much tact, the sweeping melodrama is still a winning formula. Rated: 9/10 Aug 13, 2020 Full Review Jose Maria Santos Cine-Mundial A film of very high quality that you won't easily forget. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 12, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The film that made the future President Reagan a movie star. Rated: B Feb 26, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Sam Wood's Oscar-nominated small-town tale is one of the darkest melodramas Hollywood made in the 1940s, full of neurotic personalities and perverse secrets. Rated: A- Dec 19, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In the 1890s, friends from both sides of the tracks in the village of Kings Row look for love despite the barriers of family and class. Aspiring doctor Parris Mitchell (Robert Cummings) loves the mysterious Cassandra Tower (Betty Field), despite her dark family secrets. Drake McHugh (Ronald Reagan) loses his trust fund and must go to work, but when his legs are amputated after an accident, his depression colors his relationship with feisty working-class girl Randy Monaghan (Ann Sheridan).
      Director
      Sam Wood
      Executive Producer
      Hal B. Wallis
      Screenwriter
      Henry Bellamann, Casey Robinson
      Distributor
      Warner Bros., Warner Home Vídeo
      Production Co
      Warner Bros.
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 18, 1942, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2009
      Sound Mix
      Mono
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