Movie #214 ........................."Ransom" (Glenn Ford one)

Movie #214 "Ransom" is not the Mel Gibson one and boy is it better. Glenn Ford is the dad, Donna Reed (whom I was named after) is the mother, and they handle the melodrama so much better than the remake of this classic film. I just caught this again on TCM the other night, and although I have seen it before, and also the remake, there's something about this one that keeps my interest so much more. First, the acting is so much more believable --- what an intensity these actors need to be in through THE WHOLE movie with their son being kidnapped almost at the very beginning of the film. And all the twists and turns. What I liked about this original rendition is the relentlessness of the father to hold his ground, and not budge in giving in to the kidnapper --- he refuses to pay and turns the tables on the kidnapper, and he is so convinced that paying will bring harm to his son and perpetuate this crime further. This father is so brave to stand up to everyone ---- the police, the journalists, his family, and esp. his wife. It's intriguing to watch him stand firm. Second, if I can remember the differences between the modern and the classic, I think the classic was braver in its stand on NOT paying off kidnappers --- mostly because it could be ---- that stance in a film with Mel Gibson (high profile) would be a bit chancey in this day and age. So i guess what I'm saying is that this film is worth a second look (or a first, if you haven't seen it). But I'm giving it 4 stars because it does go into the melodrama a bit ---- I just think you won't mind it because it IS so well acted by Ford and Reed.