Pulled another classic off the shelf last night. Hitchcock's only "straight comedy" (no murder, no mayhem), this stars the woman who defined "screwball comedienne"--Carole Lombard. Also starring Robert Montgomery, the story, style and comical moments are straight from the late 30s/early 40s (1941 in this case). Lombard only made one other film before her tragic death in a plane crash in 1942, on a tour selling war-bonds (her death was devastating to her husband, Clark Gable and, in some ways, he never recovered from the loss). Cut down in her prime, Lombard was the embodiment of a type later popularized by Lucille Ball (who idolized Lombard).
One certainly needs an appreciation for comedy films of the period to enjoy this movie, so I would expect a wide variety of reactions from modern audiences. Not a guaranteed crowd pleaser today (it seems film noir is the most reliable genre of earlier cinema to maintain appeal, while comedy is often period-specific in its appeal), it should still be quite enjoyable for fans of movies from this period. Not a must see in Hitchcock's repertoire, by any means, but an enjoyable glimpse into a more innocent brand of comedic cinema. It also stands as proof that Hitchcock could make any kind of movie with skill (and that he could incorporate some of his signature themes into any genre).
One certainly needs an appreciation for comedy films of the period to enjoy this movie, so I would expect a wide variety of reactions from modern audiences. Not a guaranteed crowd pleaser today (it seems film noir is the most reliable genre of earlier cinema to maintain appeal, while comedy is often period-specific in its appeal), it should still be quite enjoyable for fans of movies from this period. Not a must see in Hitchcock's repertoire, by any means, but an enjoyable glimpse into a more innocent brand of comedic cinema. It also stands as proof that Hitchcock could make any kind of movie with skill (and that he could incorporate some of his signature themes into any genre).
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