Columbia/Security. Director Irving Rapper; Producer Philip Yordan; Writer Philip Yordan, Arthur Laurents; Camera Sol Polito Editor Charles Nelson; Music David Diamond
Paulette Goddard
William Bishop
Oscar Homolka
John Ireland
Broderick Crawford
Anna Lucasta, reverting the tale from the legit Negro cast to an all-white ensemble, is no bowl of wheaties for the kiddies.
Enduring quality of Lucasta is its ability to lend itself to a fast stream of quips and repartee which stems directly from the situations. Scripters Philip Yordan and Arthur Laurents [working from Yordan's play] have taken full advantage of that factor.
It's about a greedy family that has thrown out the youngest daughter believing she has sinned. She is brought back when the family sees the chance of conning some money by wedding her off to a southern farmer.
Paulette Goddard performs competently although her physical accoutrements do not measure up to the lush requirements of the part. Her Anna is a game attempt in that direction but the lack of corporeal apparatus keeps the sparks from flying.
(B&W) Extract of a review from 1949. Running time: 86 MIN.
Contact Variety Staff at
news@variety.com