I'll tell you why so serious

Absolutely Brilliant!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

I have never been a Barbara Stanwyck fan, I have tried watching her highest rated films. I caught some of My Reputation last Sunday, and was interested in it. I'm at the end of watching it on TCM On Demand. It's now one of my favorite films.I suggest you watch it if it is available. Today is the last day for my cable system's on demand feature,

A Good Try but not Totally Successful Attempt at Antiquation Dealing with Generations Past with Their Social, Personal, and Now Outdated Traditions.Barbara Stanwyck Showing Her Range as an Actress is all Pent Up Emotion and Struggling to Juggle Personal Gratification among Her Widowed Status that is Accompanied by Two Children, a Domineering Mentally Disturbed Mother, and a Reputation as a Pillar of the La-Dee-Da Upper Middle Class Suburbs.There is an Attempt at Social Consciousness Raising from Warner Bros. and some Ground Shaking but not Fully Breaking from Established Taboos. It is a Gallant Effort with a Soft Focus and a Charming Underpinning Max Steiner Score. Nothing is Satisfyingly Settled, Except by Hollywood Happy Ending Standards.The Film belongs to Stanwyck and the Message is Pulled Back Somewhat for Easy Consumption. George Brent as the Love Interest is Hardly Noticeable but Not Bad. The Rest of the Supporting Cast is Memorable and Deliver Fine Professional Performances.Overall it is Slightly Disappointing with a Quick Wrap Up and the Ending is Weak when it should have Peaked with Power and Realistically Concluded a Strong Story that Collapsed Somewhat, Mostly due to the Lack of Chemistry in Stanwyck's Relationship with Brent.

Well-heeled widow Barbara Stanwyck (as Jessica "Jess" Drummond) is tearful following the death of her husband. The free-spirited Ms. Stanwyck doesn't want to wear black during the day, which infuriates appearances-conscious mother Lucile Watson (as Mary Kimball). Stanwyck becomes scared and lonely at night, especially after sending cheerful sons Scotty Beckett and Bobby Cooper (as Kim and Keith Drummond) off to boarding school. She fills her days by volunteering at the hospital, but, "When the day is over and I go up to that empty room," Stanwyck sobs, "the house is closing down on me!" Fearing a mental breakdown, Stanwyck accepts an invitation to go skiing with wise-cracking pal Eve Arden (as Ginna Abbott).Stanwyck gets lost on the slopes, and is rescued by manly George Brent (as Scott Landis). He fills her needs, which ignites gossip among those who feel Stanwyck cut her mourning period short. Mr. Brent tells Stanwyck he's not the marrying kind, but adores seeing her regularly. Tongues really wag after Stanwyck is spotted entering Mr. Brent's room. Ultimately, the affair causes Christmas vacationing youngsters Beckett and Cooper to run away from home. This part is a dramatic highlight, but the film seems to move both too slow and too fast at other times. A scene establishing the boys' sadness on their father's death, and more about Ms. Watson's character, would have been nice. Stanwyck and Watson are fun to watch.****** My Reputation (1/25/46) Curtis Bernhardt ~ Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Lucile Watson, Scotty Beckett

This is a terrific film; lushly produced at WB in 1943 and with a performance by Stanwyck that I am still thinking about days later. I am puzzled at some of the negative comments and reviews as I went completely with this film and her performance; not once did I consider it a 'weepie' or felt it was a Crawford or Davis cast off. ... although it did remind me that it could have been almost a sequel to NOW VOYAGER (see both and you will recognize what I mean). MY REPUTATION deals in a very adult and modern manner with the perils of gossip and perceived social status and the mental straight-jacket that entraps the vulnerable. It also deals with a woman's sexuality post widowhood and the effect it has on her teenage sons. The sequence late in the film where she explains this to the boys is one of the great scenes in 40s cinema. The use of shadow (James Wong Howe photography) is ideal. Barbra Stanwyck is breathtakingly beautiful all through this very humane intelligent film; with a supporting cast of strong humorous characters led by the gargoyle Mother played by stone-faced Lucile Watson... giving Gladys Cooper (VOYAGER) a run for her money, or Laura Hope Crewes from the genuinely shocking SILVER CORD from 1932. I had never heard of this title so I was genuinely enthralled and thrilled at MY REPUTATION. It appears the release was botched in 1946 leaving this 3 year old film on the shelf until then which made certain parts of the romance irrelevant to post war audiences. MY REPUTATION is an excellent film, with beautiful sets and art direction, hilarious whimsy and very strong adult themes. Even the Max Steiner score is lovely. Do not be put off by any carping about any aspect of this well intentioned drama... MY REPUTATION is intact (which is more than I can personally say for me today).