The Late George Apley

A comedy about one of Boston's established families. George Apley lives by the rules. His family has lived for generations in the same city, in the same circle, with the same customs. Where one lives, whom one marries and which club one belongs to are all settled. The trouble comes from his children. His daughter takes up with a man from New York; his son with a girl from another set. Apley tries to stop both, and his reason is not morality but circle. The humour comes from the man being trapped in his own system. Apley is not ill-intentioned; he genuinely believes he is protecting his children and cannot see how narrow the thing he defends is. The narrative makes this world ridiculous and at the same time keeps a distance from the people inside it. The source is John P. Marquand's novel and the play adapted from it. Ronald Colman plays Apley; Peggy Cummins and Vanessa Brown are in the cast. Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed. A fine example for anyone who likes classical Hollywood comedy and dialogue-driven storytelling. For a viewer expecting movement, the narrative consists entirely of drawing-room conversation.