अपनी भाषा में प्लॉट जोड़ेंThe action takes place in Ephesus in ancient Asia Minor, and the story concerns the efforts of two boys from Syracuse, Antipholus and his servant Dromio, to find their long-lost twins who, f... सभी पढ़ेंThe action takes place in Ephesus in ancient Asia Minor, and the story concerns the efforts of two boys from Syracuse, Antipholus and his servant Dromio, to find their long-lost twins who, for reason of plot confusion, are also named Antipholus and Dromio. Complications arise whe... सभी पढ़ेंThe action takes place in Ephesus in ancient Asia Minor, and the story concerns the efforts of two boys from Syracuse, Antipholus and his servant Dromio, to find their long-lost twins who, for reason of plot confusion, are also named Antipholus and Dromio. Complications arise when the wives of Ephesians, Adriana and her servant Luce, mistake the two strangers for thei... सभी पढ़ें
- 2 ऑस्कर के लिए नामांकित
- 2 कुल नामांकन
फ़ीचर्ड समीक्षाएं
Not that A Comedy of Errors isn't bawdy and funny enough in its original version, but imagine Bill Shakespeare strained through Damon Runyon and presented at Minsky's and you have some idea what the film is all about.
Two sets of twins were lost at sea during their childhood during a shipwreck. One set went with father to Syracuse, the other wound up in Ephesus with mom. So an Antipheles and a Dromio grew up in those warring Greek cities without knowing about each other. Father Samuel S. Hinds left Syracuse to search for his other son and that son's twin servant as well. And Allan Jones and Joe Penner, The Boys From Syracuse, set out after him, not realizing what they were going to get involved in when they reached Ephesus.
The laughs are fast and furious, a lot of them provided by Martha Raye who is married to one of the Joe Penners and Joe Penner himself. Allan Jones from Syracuse of course is mistaken by his wife Irene Hervey of Ephesus, but he's got eyes for her sister, Rosemary Lane.
Allan Jones gets to sing Falling In Love With Love which became a standard forever identified with him, almost as much as The Donkey Serenade. In addition Rodgers&Hart wrote another ballad especially for the film version that Jones gets to sing entitled Who Are You. It's a lovely song and it's a question frequently asked in The Boys From Syracuse.
Joe Penner's comedy seemed to be a lot like Lou Costello's and considering both came from burlesque and probably played Minsky's not surprising. Penner even has that patented Costello whistle. Penner died young, a year later while on tour. During the Thirties he was enormously popular on radio and did several films of which The Boys From Syracuse turned out to be his last.
Alan Mowbray and Eric Blore are a pair of confused tailors who keep trying to collect a bill from at least one of the Antipheli. And a very droll performance is contributed by Charles Butterworth as the Duke of Ephesus. If this were done at MGM, Frank Morgan would have had the part.
The Boys From Syracuse is a personal Rodgers&Hart favorite of mine as is Allan Jones. For me this is a not miss film.
"The Boys from Syracuse" is a 20th century version of Shakespeare's play, and of his probable earlier source, the play by Roman playwright, Titus Maccius Plautus. It's based on a Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart musical of the same title in1938 that had a good run on Broadway. The play and this film are very good adaptations of the original sources.
Alan Jones is the lead singer and is very good in the lead double roles of Antipholus, and Joe Penner is very good in the double roles of his servant, Dromio. Charles Butterworth is funny as the Duke of Ephesus and Alan Mowbray and Eric Blore are worth some laughs as the tailors, Angelo and Pinch. Martha Raye performs most of the rest of the song and dance portions, after Jones. She plays Luce, a servant of sisters Adriana and Phyllis, played by Irene Hervey and Rosemary Lane.
The exaggeration in the film is quite funny. This is a comedy of mistaken identity that is situational and peppered with antics and some slapstick. The humor in the dialog is mostly related to the mix-ups rather than clever witticisms or wisecracks. Two very popular Rodgers and Hart tunes came out of the musical - "This Can't Be Love," and "Falling in Love with Love."
The prologue as the film opens, sets the stage. "We would a tale unfold of ancient Greece; a tale of love and hate, of forlorn hopes and great ambitions. For there were men in those days - and women - and politicians - and graft - and double-crossing - and all the modern improvements we enjoy today." The sign over the tailor's shop reads, "Pinch & Angelo Tailors - If U come CLEAN with us, we'll DYE for you." And, a sign above a local public house reads, "Wooden Horse Inn." Toward the end in the public square, the large crowd assembled chants in unison, "Give 'em the ax, the ax, the ax. Give 'em, the ax, the ax, the ax." The epilogue on the screen at the end of the film reads, "This picture is after "A Comedy of Errors" by William Shakespeare ( - long, long after)."
Here are some favorite lines.
Duke of Ephesus, "Tell you what to do - get yourself a good hangover and you'll actually enjoy having your head cut off."
Angelo, "Don't jerk." Pinch, "Who, me?" Angelo, "That's a request, not a description."
Angelo, "You know, I believe he's trying to turn things around - so that instead of him owing us, we owe him."
Adriana, "Drinking and singing! Can I let that man out of my sight for a minute before he starts having a good time?"
Luce, "Why you broken down little weasel, you. I think you just married me for my money." Dromio, "Well, if I did, I earned it."
Angelo, "We got your highness' invitation." Duke of Ephesus, "That wasn't an invitation - it was a summons."
Phyllis, "You must be the happiest man in the world." Antipholus, "I?" Phyllis, "Mm hm. Because you're in love with yourself and you haven't a rival in the whole world."
But the most captivating person in the whole narrative was Charles Butterworth as the Duke - though elected one - as the two condemned tailors mentioned of voting for him in the election. That is one role which had been added, no similar character existed in original - but with real "Effect". Afterwards, I realised, his character was based almost on "Vitalstatistix" and how... !
Unlike all other adaptations of this drama - I have seen quite a few - this was entirely new and refreshing look at the plot.
Highly recommended - but for the quality of the picture - from the DVD I bought from Vic, no one probably bothered to remaster this - thankfully the sound was still excellent, and that took a lot of sting out.
क्या आपको पता है
- ट्रिवियाLoosely based on William Shakespeare's "A Comedy of Errors."
- भाव
Duke of Ephesus: Tell you what to do - get yourself a good hangover and you'll actually enjoy having your head cut off.
- कनेक्शनReferenced in You Nazty Spy! (1940)
- साउंडट्रैकThis Can't Be Love
(uncredited)
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Played during the opening credits
Sung by Irene Hervey
Reprised by the Company during the finale medley
टॉप पसंद
विवरण
- चलने की अवधि1 घंटा 13 मिनट
- रंग
- पक्ष अनुपात
- 1.37 : 1