bucksix
I have been a fan of Feydeau farces for a long time. I have read many and seen quite a few produced. How I missed this movie for so long is a complete mystery to me. Whether she can act or not, Gina L is a pure delight. I thought she was exactly right in this role. This is the one of the few times I have seen Alec Guinness as this type of character. But he is always on top of it, whether as a ladies man or as a priest. This movie is a little slow getting off the ground, but stay with it. After the various characters are introduced it is pure Feydeau the rest of the way. As in his other works there is a lot of assignation planned, but no consummation. I would like to give a 10 rating but even though this is a fun romp, it it not quite excellent. Too bad I can't vote 9.5
SimonJack
Would-be Romeo Benedict Boniface (Alec Guinness) talks luscious neighbor, Marcelle Cot (Gina Lollobrigida), into having a tryst with him to get revenge with her husband. Henry Cot goes away many nights on business - really. The infidelity of Benedict and Marcelle is never consummated, so to speak. The events that follow at the Hotel Paradisio see to that.Robert Morley plays Henri Cot and Peggy Mount plays Angelique Boniface, as the innocent spouses of the two would-be adulterers. But others add to the frolicking fun in this farce. Ann Beach is particularly good as Victoire, the maid to the Bonifaces, and Duggie Byng is very good as Monsieur Martin. The movie isn't filled with clever dialog, nor does it have much slapstick. Mostly, the humor comes from the plot that has people running into one another unexpectedly. Guinness is the funniest as the choreographer of hide and seek, dodge and dart. It's a funny film of cat and mouse, hide and seek, and peekaboo. Unfortunately, these seem to come in spurts so there isn't a sense of running humor to the film. This is a light farce that has some very funny moments in the hotel and later. Several of the characters have been released after being taken to jail in a police raid of the hotel. The film is filled with innuendo, and has a couple of risqué scenes of overweight women in a floor show and in hotel rooms. "Hotel Paradisio" should be a safe film for mature teens. The ending is a hoot and accounts for the character of Georges Feydeau (played by Peter Glenville) whom the miscreants seem to bump into so frequently. Glenville directed the film. The real Feydeau wrote the 1894 play that is the basis for this movie.
verbusen
I just finished watching this off of TCM Middle East, and boy do I feel good! This started out slow paced like most Guinness comedies do, but it was all worth the wait. It all came together extremely nicely and I thought it was almost perfect. The extra charms are of the 1900 era settings provided, truly an age of enlightened innocence with all the modern conveniences coming into play. Gina is just sooo hot and really funny, and Alec is flawless in his role, plus there is an Akim Tamiroff role who I really dig (Alphaville among other great character roles). I honestly laughed out loud with delight the way it all came together especially the time Morley tried to barge in the room with his wife and neighbor on the other side desperately holding the door back. Yeah it's heavy on slapstick but hey, I never hear people hating Chaplin for that! Very entertaining, especially if you like a nice setup to a great joke. I'm feeling very good now, thanks all involved in this film!
Strelnikoff
For anyone to disparage the long history of the farce (as someone did in their review here) just boggles my mind. The farce has a long and rich history.For that same someone also to slip in a comment about how they dislike the entire country and culture of France, well, that says it all--about them. No need for me to point out (but I will) their location is in Texas. Sheeeesh.I saw this particular farce (which stars one of the greatest British actors of stage/screen, mind you) many years ago and it left a vivid enough impression, simply as a well-made comedy, that I would have no hesitation about renting it again. Worrying about whether one is 'understanding the farce' --or resenting the insecurity you may feel if you suspect that you don't understand the format--has nothing to do with it.Watch films you like--don't watch films that you dislike, and you will never need any further defense than this. Personal taste is yours to command. Don't worry about fitting in with other people, worry about yourself.
AD
