THE POWER AND THE GLORY (1933) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - William K. Howard

Written by - Preston Sturges

Starring - Spencer Tracy, Colleen Moore

"THE POWER AND THE GLORY stars SPENCER TRACY as a man who rises up the ranks from illiterate railroad worker to head of his company. He does so thanks to his wife, who not only inspired him to become more ambitious, but also helps him beginning by teaching him how to read or write. 

WILLIAM K. HOWARD's film is acknowledged as being the first film to make active use of narration at the dawning of the "talkies". The story is in fact told after the man's funeral by one of his acquaintances to his funeral, who takes his side while narrating it to his wife who disapproved of his behaviour. This technique, which predated Citizen Kane that would make a prominent and masterful use of it almost a decade later, was heavily promoted upon the film's release and makes a seemingly old fashioned and possibly outdated standard melodramatic premise seem all the more interesting. 

Though it is true that the film's story seems tired and dull, it shows a certain genuineness and realism that can be traced back to its screenwriter PRESTON STURGES."

Drama, USA