vincentlynch-moonoi
The best thing about this film may very well be the performance of Gregory Peck...because it is so unlike the typical Gregory Peck role or performance. While watching the film I kept seeing Cary Grant in the role, only to find out that Grant had turned down the role (as had Jimmy Stewart).I wondered why I had always unconsciously avoided this film...probably because I'm not a particular fan of Lauren Bacall...at least in her post-1940s films. But I must say that Bacall is wonderful in the role.So you have two wonderful star performances, not to mention a top-notch script. What could wrong. Pretty much nothing. I did find the film just a tad bit slow early on, but it built nicely.The supporting cast does nicely here, as well. It's not that anyone stands out, but they all do their jobs well. I was not familiar with Dolores Gray, here as the "other woman"; great for this part; not sure how she would fare generally...and she had a pretty sparse career in front of the camera (she did sing Marilyn Monroe's part in "There's No Business Like Show Business"). Sam Levene may be just a tad over-the-top as Peck's editor, but it's funny. I always enjoy seeing Tom Helmore, here as the "other man"; he does well with his suave manner. Mickey Shaughnessy is priceless as a punch-drunk ex-boxer friend of Peck's. Jesse White as a squealer is pretty good. Edward Platt (later the Chief in "Get Smart" does fine as a crooked boxing promoter. Chuck Connors...well, thankfully it was a small role. Interestingly, 3 actors were uncredited -- Richard Deacon, Dean Jones, and Sid Melton.This climax is unique...and funny...and finally explains why Jack Cole's role as a choreographer (which he really was) is so key to the script.This is a top-notch comedy, and a real treat for Gregory Peck fans. Give it a watch! Highly recommended.
PamelaShort
This Vincente Minnelli directed comedy/romance film has it's moments, most of all when the elegant Lauren Bacall graces the screen. Gregory Peck tries his best with his part as a sports writer, meeting and marrying fashion designer Bacall after a quick affair. Both don't really know each other, and upon returning home to New York , Peck has quite a time keeping his new wife from meeting his not to happy jilted ex-girlfriend Dolores Gray. If that isn't enough he must leave town after insulting someone in his sports column. Mickey Shaughnessy is quite amusing here playing Maxie Stultz, a punchy ex-pug who is appointed to guard Peck at all times. I quite enjoyed his character who sleeps with his eyes open, with the exasperated Peck declaring, " Open your eyes and go to sleep Maxie." Choreographer Jack Cole saves the day, with a slick impromptu dance that brings down the gangsters trailing Peck. Visually pleasing to watch, with plenty of beautiful fashion's worn by Bacall, this is a film of it's time, and it remains stuck there. If you are a fan of Lauren Bacall, Gregory Peck and films from the 1950's you may find this light comedy entertaining.
PudgyPandaMan
I mainly checked this out due to the fact that it WON the Oscar for best writing, story and screen play. Boy, 1958 must have been a very slow year. The only great thing I can say is that the costumes and gowns were beautiful - but it didn't even get nominated for that.I'm a big fan of Gregory Peck, but he was horribly miscast here. He does best when playing a sincere man with a noble cause. I don't know how or why he agreed to do this film. Laurne Bacall is very irritating in her role. Her "hair flips" get to be quite distracting. Delores Gray didn't appeal to me either - her features are much too equine to be attractive.I know this is supposed to be an attempt at comedy, but the whole fight scene where the choreographer kicks all the gangster guys to oblivion is just ridiculous.The only highlights for me were seeing Chuck Connor ("Rifleman") in a small role as a gangster, Edward Platt (Chief from "Get Smart") as the head gangster, and Mickey Shaugnessy as the punch-drunk idiot boxer who sleeps with his eyes open. It's interesting that they originally had cast James Stewart and Grace Kelly in the leads, but Stewart backed out after Kelly became engaged to Prince Ranier of Monaco. Maybe there would have been a better comedy portrayal had they been in it.I expected much more from an Oscar winner.
T Y
Conceived as an urbane, lifestyle-envy vehicle for wide screens, it's not much more. But it's a handsome production made with more care than it might have been. It's surprisingly modern despite the curious narration device. Minelli mines some of his favorite elements from previous work. The behind-the-scenes soundstages and equipment from The Bad and the Beautiful, become a Dolores Gray TV production here. Revealing the machinery is a much more modern & compelling technique, than filming it straight. I have never understood the appeal of Gregory Peck at all. But here he's in his prime and he's a good clothes horse. His hungover point-of-view shot of the sky over Beverly Hills made me laugh out loud. A scene in which he's somewhere he shouldn't be, and an awful pet dog refuses to comply is pretty funny. Bacall playing 'girly' as the fifties demanded is a stretch, but she's better here than in the laugh-free 'How to Marry a Millionaire' which can't spare her even a second to be human. A punch-drunk lout named Maxie who sleeps with his eyes open, reminds me of several other lunkhead roles (Aldo Ray in Pat and Mike) but mostly of Spinner in 'Death to Smoochy.'The opening narration which structures the rather formless movie, and sets up the brouhaha over a notorious incident in Boston, is not matched by the actual incident when it arrives (it's pretty trivial). The theme music wears out it's welcome at about the half hour mark. Around chapter 29 I was ready for things to conclude but there were still ten chapters to go. (!!!!) I get more enjoyment from a second tier Minelli movie than his big hits (An American in Paris, Gigi). D.W. a virtual carbon copy of the Brittany Murphy/Ashton Kutcher vehicle 'Just Married' where a sports schmo marries better than expected. And I prefer it to the similar Tracy/Hepburn vehicle 'Woman of the Year.' Bogart must have been dying as Bacall worked on this.
AD
