(1956)
2
Craig Butler
Gaby, which marks the third time that Waterloo Bridge was translated to the screen, is a fairly dull romance. Part of the problem lies in the fact that only in the first, pre-Code version of this story were the filmmakers able to really demonstrate what exactly the title character is up to when she falls into endless grief and remorse over nor "giving herself" to her true love before he is assumed to be killed in war. In this version, we're told enough that we know how Gaby has fallen, but it's not presented in a way that makes compelling dramatic or emotional sense. Indeed, the emotional throughline, which is crucial for this story's success, comes across consistently as artificial, which is a major handicap. This is in no way the fault of Leslie Caron, who as the title character gives everything she's got and turns in a fine performance that provides an emotional basis that is missing in the material itself. As her love interest, John Kerr is only intermittently effective, and he lacks the maturity to make the ending feel less than forced. Supporting cast is quite good, and the physical production is more than adequate.
cast-crew for Gaby on AllMovie
Gaby (1956)
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