An entertaining, well-made WWI-era romance, SUZY features a standardly-scripted but winningly-executed love triangle, with some espionage and spy action thrown into the mix. In the title role, Jean Harlow (who was arguably MGM's biggest female star at the time) gives a refreshingly natural and totally believable performance, and really carries the film with her considerable charm and screen presence. Franchot Tone and Cary Grant may draw some criticism for utilizing improper accents, but both actors contribute solid performances as the men in our heroine's life – Tone is touching as the idealistic charmer who truly loves Suzy, and Grant is shockingly effective cast against type as smooth-talking but treacherous heel. The movie is further enhanced by the quiet strength of Lewis Stone, whose genteel toughness as Andre's father creates a moving relationship with Harlow as his neglected daughter-in-law.
As a WWI period piece, the studio faced the obvious challenge of redressing the soundstages to reflect the 1914 setting, and the MGM artisans contribute their usual high standard to the film. SUZY features the typical MGM gloss, although the budget does appear to be a bit more limited than the studio usually lavished upon a vehicle for one of their biggest stars. The sets and costumes are up to the usual MGM standard for the time, with Harlow's stunning figure showcased in several beautiful Dolly Tree gowns (even if the style is unarguably more 1936 than it is 1914). The film makes extensive use of various stock footage, notably Howard Hughes' 1930 classic HELL'S ANGELS, most of which is reasonably incorporated into the finished film and succeeds in enhancing the film's scope.
The film is based on Herbert Gorman's novel (which I haven't read), and the film's characters are very well-developed by the strong performances of the cast – which gives the central love triangle more tension and pathos when compared to many similar and also leaves Suzy's relationship with the Baron as poignant as that of the love affair with either suitor. The film only wobbles a bit in the final third as too many coincidences involving the espionage subplot begin to pile up, and a slightly preposterous conclusion prevents the film from being a total classic (with four credited screenwriters, perhaps there were too many cooks in the kitchen). SUZY is absolutely terrific when it's focus remains on it's strong characterizations and the relationships of it's leads. Director George Fitzmaurice does an expert job of keeping the whole film on track, and provides us with many breathtakingly beautiful moments – my favorite of which is a particularly lovely scene with Grant singing a few lines of the Oscar-nominated song "Did I Remember" to Harlow.
