THE MAGGIE (1953) ***1/2 Ah, sure an' those Ealing Studios boys knew how to make a film didn't they! Lots of sex and violence, then? Ah, no, no sex to speak of an' no mooch violence. Well, they must chase each other around, then, in fast cars. Well, nooo, there's a puffer boat, but it's no so fast, you see. Well, there must be some beautiful scenery, or something. Sure, sure, it's Scotland. But what-? Well, Alexander Mackendrick knows something about shooting the distance between things--between people sure, but also between other things-say people and livestock, or people and puffer boats, for example. Well, but the actors- Yeah, sure, that's right, Alex Mackenzie, he's the old captain see, and the wee boy, Tommy Kearins, they're quite good for sure. Well, it must be very complicated. No, no, it's quite simple, just so's strange that so few of us see it that way. So there's a big simple message? Well, I guess there is. Well, what is it? (shrugs) What could it be-simple messages are usually too simple to sound like much. Well, c'mon, man, give me something. Ok, American businessmen don't get it. American businessmen don't get it? Yeah, sure that's right, the economic miracle's an unimpeded human tragedy. That's the message? Oh, no, that's a message-why there must be millions of 'em, all making up an even simpler one-the wasted potential, that's one, that one's the wild card joker there I tell ya.
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