Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3929 in VHS
• Released on: 1989-05-03
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Format: NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Customer Reviews

new rogers, same thrill
it would have been easy for Ginger Rogers to overact, but she doesn't. She's in fact incredible as the poor daughter or a prostitute. She has her natural red hair back, but it's the same face if you look deep enough. She played this role without almost any make-up, and she looks very natural because of it. she meets Joel McCrea (another musical actor who, like Ginger makes the transtion to drama quite easily)when you think about it, their relationship is almost astaire-rogers like. First they meet, ginger rebuffs (he kisses her, she slaps him) then, they fall in love (they even get married) then a misunderstanding tears them apart, but they fall into each other's arms come the end credits. This movie is quite grown-up for 1940. (a notice came up before showing on TCM from 1940 that this movie was approved for adult audiences) there's nothing worse than kissing (quite a bit though) but the themes are adult. The chemistry between the two stars is wicked. when they lay under a boat he's painting, (he's practically on top of her) it's almost eerie how they fir together. Yes, it is serious, bur when Rogers smiles, she lights up the whole screen, and you can't help but love her. In case it gets too serious, afretwards, watch 42nd street (1933)(where Gin's at her wisecracking best) or carefree, shall we dance? or swingtime, where she's at her musical-comedy best. But don't forget to enjoy this film, because it's deffinately worthy.

The Primrose Path With Ginger Rogers & Joel McCrea
Excellent movie, lots of fun and has everything, love, romance, comedy nicely mixed with drama. Girl from wrong side of the tracks falls for boy from right side of tracks, love blooms and the fun begins during their stormy courtship, but destined romance and love affair. Ellie May's family adds just the right touch of a dysfunctional family that will make you laugh, but also touch your heart with sadness and your eye ducts with a tear or two. I highly recommend it, great fun with a stellar cast.

"We Live Not As We Want To, But As We Must"
The above quote is how this excellent melodrama starts, at it really sets the tone for the rest of the film. "Primrose Path" does a fantastic job of illustrating the lengths a person can be driven to out of sheer desperation. Ginger Rogers' acting in this film is hard to put into words. It's simply perfect. Her portrayal is at once completely natural, yet incredibly nuanced. Two scenes, in particular, when her husband leaves and when her mother dies, are excellent examples of acting at its best. Another of Rogers' films, "Kitty Foyle", released the same year, garnered more attention, mainly because it was a based on a hugely popular book, while "Primrose Path" was highly controversial. Personally, I think Rogers should have won the Oscar for this film, instead of "Kitty Foyle". I highly recommend "Primrose Path". However, be forewarned. While there is no outright violence or sex, this is not a family film, as it deals with very adult themes, such as poverty, alcoholism, and prostitution.