In 1947 "The Late George Apley" would definitely have been what was called a prestige production. It began life as a novel by John P, Marquand before being adapted for the stage by Marquand and George S. Kaufman so it seemed inevitable that it would be filmed. Primarily it's a vehicle for the actor playing Apley, the stuffy, rich and hugely snobbish Bostonian who is finally brought out of himself and down to earth by his children and the people they choose to fall in love with and in Ronald Colman they did indeed find the perfect Apley, not that he has to do a great deal of acting, (that's left largely to the supporting cast). Colman just has to swan about, speaking in those beautifully dulcet tones and he does it beautifully. It's also a comedy; gentle, sweet-natured and genuinely funny. The director was Jospeh L. Mankiewicz and while it may not be among his best work it is very likeable if also very old-fashioned.
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