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It was an inspired touch to begin what is arguably the ultimate Rom-Com with a montage of an unappetising winter night scenes in London which finally settle on the luxurious apartment of Anna Kalman (Bergman) as she enters, alone, after cutting short a holiday abroad. Within minutes she is joined by both her housekeeper and chauffeur (Megs Jenkins, David Kossman) and sister (Phyllis Calvert) and brother-in-law (Cecil Parker) who have arrived - thinking Bergman still away - merely to change into evening clothes before attending a diplomatic dinner. Thus well within five minutes screen time we have established a luxury apartment inhabited by a highly successful actress moving in the highest circles. Clearly the original play ('Kind Sir') adapted by the author, Norman Krasna, was confined to this one set and it does, despite 'opening out' retain the feel of a sophisticated play rather than a film. There is, however, a highly 'filmic' moment well within the first reel (and it may well have been retained from the play) when Bergman, head covered in shampoo, Calvert and Parker, turn to find Cary Grant standing in the open doorway personifying charm, glamor and sex appeal with the clear nod to a similar scene in 'Swingtime' when Fred has just sung the ultimate romantic ballad, 'The Way You Look Tonight' to a Ginger similarly lathered in shampoo, reinforcing the magical cinematic quality. Though shooting in color Stanley Donen elects to downplay the lavish sets and let the performances do the glittering. Wise move. Yes, it's frothy, yes, it's insubstantial but YES, YES, YES, it is pure ENTERTAINMENT. Strongly recommended.
score 7/10
writers_reign 4 April 2012
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2591734/ |
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24-3-2021 04:56:13