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Kings Row (1941)

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Movie Info

A seemingly quiet Midwestern town is the hiding place for a number of sordid secrets in this melodrama based on Henry Bellamann's best-selling novel. Parris Mitchell (Scotty Beckett) is a young boy growing up in the town of King's Row, where he becomes close friends with Cassandra (Mary Thomas), a quiet girl who isn't popular with the other children. Parris is also friends with Louise (Joan Duvalle), a rich girl who looks down on others; Drake (Douglas Croft), a good-natured but self-centered

Unrated, 2 hr. 7 min.

Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Casey Robinson

Aug 15, 2006

Cast

All Critics (18) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (1) | DVD (4)

The film that made the future President Reagan a movie star.

February 26, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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.

December 19, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

A wonderful drama full of intrigue and positive themes about the bonds of friendship and true love, and well acted by Ronald Reagan.

September 5, 2006 Full Review Source: About.com | Comment
About.com

...one of the best soapy melodramas to come out of Hollywood. (Ronald Reagan Centennial Collection)

August 6, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

...while episodic and sentimental and filled with all kinds of unlikely turns of events, there is no denying the characters are endearing and the ending uplifting.

August 6, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

A wonderful guilty pleasure potboiler enchanced by a magnificent Korngold score and fine acting from Ronald Reagan in the performance of his career. Only lead Robert Cummings is weak as Paris Mitchell; just imagine James Cagney in the role!

January 28, 2005 Comment
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Classic soap opera, maybe all time best; certainly Reagan's best

October 23, 2004 Comment

Unpleasant soap opera, but well made.

June 16, 2003 Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

The film is dark, incredibly so for a mainstream movie before World War II.

February 28, 2002 Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies | Comment

Kings Row (1942) combines a turn-of-the-century setting with a small-town melodrama uncovering evil and depravity.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films | Comment
Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Kings Row

Good film could have been great with better male leads, the female stars are excellent though.

March 18, 2008
jjnxn
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

A classic. An intriguing look at small town America. Utterly believable and for that reason alone, pretty scary. Former President Reagen's finest film appearance.

October 20, 2008
BigBabyJesus
Radio Nowhere

    1. Drake McHugh: Where's the rest of me?
    – Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Kings Row (1942) (DE)
  • Kings Row (1942) (UK)
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