cgvsluis
Joined May 2015
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cgvsluis's rating
I actually enjoyed this film immensely and that came as quite a surprise. To begin with, the real life married couple Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall were delightful playing the on screen married British couple Jimmy and Sheila Broadbent. They have Jimmy's American daughter Jane Broadbent (Sandra Dee) come stay with them.
The two are excited, but Sheila gets caught up in a bit of competition with her childhood frenemy Mabel Claremont, played by Angela Lansbury, and enters Jane into the London debutante season along with Mabel's daughter Clarissa (Diane Clare).
A large part of the comedy of this film is the lengths that the parents go to in order to secure a good match for their children...which includes being perpetually exhausted.
Sheila seems to be pushing Jane towards this young British chap named David Fenner (Peter Myers) who not only is a complete and utter bore who only seems to care about traffic routes, but is the chap that Clarissa has her eyes set on. Thankfully Clarissa is patient and a good friend to Jane.
But even more fun is the foreign drummer named David Parkson (John Saxon), who for Jane is the only interesting person at these debutante balls. The two strike up a friendship...one which her father and stepmother would like to put an end to.
There are a couple of great twists and fun misunderstandings...but all in all this is a delightfully fun and funny film. I think the chemistry by the real life couple is fantastic and Sandra Dee is refreshing and fresh faced, perfect for the role of the American daughter. Angela Lansbury played her chatty catty role to a Tee as did Peter Myers for his droll role. Finally, John Saxon was the perfect hero for our Sandra Dee. Great casting, great story, exceptional comedy all make this a recommendation from me for both romantics and classic film fans....especially if you are a fan of Angela Lansbury (because this was a different role for her) and Rex Harrison, who really anchored the film for everyone as the devoted husband and father.
The two are excited, but Sheila gets caught up in a bit of competition with her childhood frenemy Mabel Claremont, played by Angela Lansbury, and enters Jane into the London debutante season along with Mabel's daughter Clarissa (Diane Clare).
A large part of the comedy of this film is the lengths that the parents go to in order to secure a good match for their children...which includes being perpetually exhausted.
Sheila seems to be pushing Jane towards this young British chap named David Fenner (Peter Myers) who not only is a complete and utter bore who only seems to care about traffic routes, but is the chap that Clarissa has her eyes set on. Thankfully Clarissa is patient and a good friend to Jane.
But even more fun is the foreign drummer named David Parkson (John Saxon), who for Jane is the only interesting person at these debutante balls. The two strike up a friendship...one which her father and stepmother would like to put an end to.
There are a couple of great twists and fun misunderstandings...but all in all this is a delightfully fun and funny film. I think the chemistry by the real life couple is fantastic and Sandra Dee is refreshing and fresh faced, perfect for the role of the American daughter. Angela Lansbury played her chatty catty role to a Tee as did Peter Myers for his droll role. Finally, John Saxon was the perfect hero for our Sandra Dee. Great casting, great story, exceptional comedy all make this a recommendation from me for both romantics and classic film fans....especially if you are a fan of Angela Lansbury (because this was a different role for her) and Rex Harrison, who really anchored the film for everyone as the devoted husband and father.
This, like a lot of Frank Sinatra films, is a bit of a downer and Frank Sinatra himself gives it that air of sadness.
Frank plays Charlie Reader, a talent scout...and agent for the theater. He also is a ladies man...or a sultan with a harem as his friend Joe proclaims, romancing different girls both day and night, including his taciturn twice daily dog walker. His best friend since childhood, Joe McCall, pays him a visit and is astounded by his bachelor lifestyle. This poor married Joe...who's fighting over wall to wall carpet and braces for his kids, ends up taking all the messages from Charlie's harem girls while he is out. In fact David Wayne's Joe McCall provides almost all of the comedy for the film and certainly the best lines.
"For all the girls you fondled and forgot"-Joe
A young ingénue named Julie Gillis tries out for a part in a theater production that Charlie is helping with and she catches his eye. Julie is played by the always lovely Debbie Reynolds. Julie is young, lovely and perfect for their part...but as a woman she has some weird ideas. To start with she plans to get married in three months to the perfect man, who she hasn't met yet. She even goes to a home show to pick out the perfect furniture for him and the three children that they are going to have.
I love Debbie Reynolds, but her character was so rigid and bossy...it made Julie difficult to stomach. Initially Charlie thinks he is infatuated with a professional symphonic musician named Sylvia, but eventually falls for Julie's charms...and somehow ends up engaged to both of them in a very cowardly move.
Sylvia is played by a very sympathetic Celeste Holm. She is the mature and reasonable woman that warrants everyone's respect and the love of Charlie, Joe and Mr. Loughran...who was played by Tom Helmore and was my second favorite character after Joe.
I was thrilled with Sylvia's ending and everyone else I ended up not caring about. The title song is cute, but unless you are in the mood for a morose story, I'm afraid this isn't a recommendation from me.
Frank plays Charlie Reader, a talent scout...and agent for the theater. He also is a ladies man...or a sultan with a harem as his friend Joe proclaims, romancing different girls both day and night, including his taciturn twice daily dog walker. His best friend since childhood, Joe McCall, pays him a visit and is astounded by his bachelor lifestyle. This poor married Joe...who's fighting over wall to wall carpet and braces for his kids, ends up taking all the messages from Charlie's harem girls while he is out. In fact David Wayne's Joe McCall provides almost all of the comedy for the film and certainly the best lines.
"For all the girls you fondled and forgot"-Joe
A young ingénue named Julie Gillis tries out for a part in a theater production that Charlie is helping with and she catches his eye. Julie is played by the always lovely Debbie Reynolds. Julie is young, lovely and perfect for their part...but as a woman she has some weird ideas. To start with she plans to get married in three months to the perfect man, who she hasn't met yet. She even goes to a home show to pick out the perfect furniture for him and the three children that they are going to have.
I love Debbie Reynolds, but her character was so rigid and bossy...it made Julie difficult to stomach. Initially Charlie thinks he is infatuated with a professional symphonic musician named Sylvia, but eventually falls for Julie's charms...and somehow ends up engaged to both of them in a very cowardly move.
Sylvia is played by a very sympathetic Celeste Holm. She is the mature and reasonable woman that warrants everyone's respect and the love of Charlie, Joe and Mr. Loughran...who was played by Tom Helmore and was my second favorite character after Joe.
I was thrilled with Sylvia's ending and everyone else I ended up not caring about. The title song is cute, but unless you are in the mood for a morose story, I'm afraid this isn't a recommendation from me.
Doris Day has never looked lovelier than in this film. She has a figure to die for and clothes to match as the upscale interior decorator Jan. Jan lives alone in a nice high-rise apartment where she has a housekeeper Alma, played by the incomparable Thelma Ritter, who comes in daily...usually with a hangover and a few choice words for the elevator operator. One of Alma's chief daily entertainments is listening to Jan's fellow party-line user romance his harem of women...particularly with his self-composed song, "You're my inspiration, (fill in girl he's talking to's name)." . Jan, however, doesn't feel as fondly towards her party-line lothario the composer Brad Allen (Rock Hudson). In fact, Jan is so upset by the heavy use of their phone-line and her inability to make or receive calls, that she complains to the phone company in an attempt to get a private line. Meanwhile, Jan is being courted by millionaire Jonathan Forbes (Tony Randall), who is having her redecorate his office. Coincidentally, Brad meets Jan accidentally and realizes she's his fellow party-line user, but knows she won't give him the time of day, so he introduces himself as, Rex, a Texan with a southern drawl, who loves his mama and is a "simple man".
"They sent a woman! That's like sending a marshmallow to put out a bonfire."-Jan
There is a lot of great comedy...particularly the timing of things. There is great dialogue and one liners...as well as some physical comedy. Much is premised on misunderstandings, but that is what makes it great. I absolutely adore the use of the well timed song..."you, lied. You dog. And you'll be sorry.". I also love the fact that two random strangers stand up for a poor girl crying in a roadside diner.
"I'm part of a minority."-Jonathan "What Minority?"-Brad "Millionaires. You outnumber us, but you'll never get us."-Jonathan
The colors are great in this film, Doris Day is gorgeous, Tony Randall and Thelma Ritter are hysterical in their rolls and Rock Hudson is handsome and believable in his alpha-male playboy role. The whole film should be on any classic film goer's must see list, but particularly if you are a fan of romantic comedies...I have seen so many contemporary films reference this film and straight up steals scenes, like the split screen bathtub scene with their legs appearing to touch. This film really is a master course in romantic comedy. Everything has it's place and the pacing is spectacular. If I haven't sold this film to you yet...you should at least watch it for the den of iniquity that is created at the end, wow! I have not seen anything to rival it on screen. Huge recommendation from me.
"You're my inspiration... Eileen."
"They sent a woman! That's like sending a marshmallow to put out a bonfire."-Jan
There is a lot of great comedy...particularly the timing of things. There is great dialogue and one liners...as well as some physical comedy. Much is premised on misunderstandings, but that is what makes it great. I absolutely adore the use of the well timed song..."you, lied. You dog. And you'll be sorry.". I also love the fact that two random strangers stand up for a poor girl crying in a roadside diner.
"I'm part of a minority."-Jonathan "What Minority?"-Brad "Millionaires. You outnumber us, but you'll never get us."-Jonathan
The colors are great in this film, Doris Day is gorgeous, Tony Randall and Thelma Ritter are hysterical in their rolls and Rock Hudson is handsome and believable in his alpha-male playboy role. The whole film should be on any classic film goer's must see list, but particularly if you are a fan of romantic comedies...I have seen so many contemporary films reference this film and straight up steals scenes, like the split screen bathtub scene with their legs appearing to touch. This film really is a master course in romantic comedy. Everything has it's place and the pacing is spectacular. If I haven't sold this film to you yet...you should at least watch it for the den of iniquity that is created at the end, wow! I have not seen anything to rival it on screen. Huge recommendation from me.
"You're my inspiration... Eileen."