JohnHowardReid Copyright 30 August 1936 by Gaumont British Picture Corporation of America. New York opening at the Roxy: 22 May 1936. U.S. release: 12 May 1936. U.K. release through Gaumont-British: May 1936. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: 26 August 1936. 9 reels. 83 minutes.SYNOPSIS: An aspiring singer/dancer cashes in on the publicity generated in a newspaper gossip column about a big-game hunter, Mrs Smythe-Smythe. Unbeknown to her, Mrs Smythe-Smythe is merely a figment of an eager young reporter's imagination.Directed with pace and style, its cleverly amusing script peppered with three or four charmingly tuneful and/or witty songs, and most ingratiatingly acted throughout, It's Love Again is one of my favorite Matthews musicals. Jessie herself is in such absolutely top-flight form (double pun intended) it's hard to decide whether she's more wonderfully gifted as a light comedienne or as a smooth singing, admirably acrobatic dancer.Although Jessie is given more than ample opportunities to shine, there's yet enough room in the ingenious script for a marvelous host of supporting characters. Young does surprisingly well by the romantic lead, playing with both charm and spirit and singing and dancing with laudatory finesse.For the lead support role of Archie Raymond, the producer was fortunate to secure the rare services of Ernest Milton, a famous Shakespearean actor who made but very few films. Milton brings a superbly mock-serious touch to what is nothing short of a brilliantly rendered interpretation. His performance alone is worth a thousand ducats; and the astonishing moment when Olive Sloane sweeps into his room and the two of them sit at the piano joyfully rendering "When You Wore a Tulip" while Jessie stares at their backs in dismay, definitely deserves listing in anyone's catalog of Unforgettable Scenes in the Cinema.Although up-staged for the first and only time in his comic career, Sonnie Hale still has some choice bits of business. One of his most amusing scenes he shares with his real-life father, Robert Hale, here playing a tiger hunter and India expert. (Sonnie's name is Robert too, hence the "Sonnie" sobriquet). He also has to compete for laughs with Robb Wilton who manages to turn to his own delightful advantage such exquisite encounters as his confrontation with a risibly elderly group of startled, typically British club members.When she is not dancing solo or being partnered with diffident but able Young, Jessie has two fascinating duets with Cyril Wells. Jessie leads, but the skill with which Cyril keeps up with her is truly amazing. He must be the only male partner she ever had who could not only accurately mirror her more strenuous passes but impart to their dancing a full measure of his own personality as well.I could continue on with this catalog of the movie's delights for some pages yet. It seems churlish not to mention Athene Seyler's pleasurable contributions or to pass over villainous Cyril Raymond. And on the technical side, at least two or three paragraphs on Alfred Junge's startling sets and Joe Strassner's incredible dresses seem called for. Nor should I forget the most attractive photography, so artistically supervised by Glen MacWilliams. As for Saville's meticulously stylish yet seemingly light and gossamer direction, such creative entertainment deserves a whole page. In short, It's Love Again is so chock-full of enjoyment, it's a film I want to see again. And again. And again.

Alex da Silva Peter (Robert Young) and Freddie (Sonnie Hale) invent a celebrity, Mrs Smythe-Smythe, in order to fool the public and sell newspapers. Meanwhile, Elaine Bradford (Jessie Matthews) is looking for a chance to become a celebrity and seems to be getting nowhere with her audition for major theatre producer Raymond (Ernest Milton). So, she pretends to be Mrs Smythe-Smythe in order to get attention. Things go well at first but a rival reporter discovers the truth....There are many humorous sections in this film, eg, the scene where Peter and Freddie decide on their celebrity, Raymond's exasperation with the theatre (I hate the theatre....I hate the people...). The cast are all good and Sonnie Hale is funny in most of his scenes. The film is Britsh and I was surprised at the quality of both the production and the comedy. It doesn't contain that stupid British humour of the time. It is actually quite funny! But best of all, the film has Jessie Matthews singing and dancing. The songs are all fine but her dancing is great. She was easily up there with the best that Hollywood could provide at the time. Maybe she was THE best of her time. All the dances are good, my favourite being the sequence where she is trapped into giving a performance of a Hindu temple dance. She has no idea what she is supposed to do and starts somewhat hesitantly but then turns it into the most enjoyable solo tap dance sequence in any film that I can remember seeing. A joy to watch. I was pleasantly surprised by this film.

kidboots There was no female dancer who could compare to Jessie Matthews. She had a sparkling personality and her dancing was out of this world - she was not called the dancing divinity for nothing!!! She did not make many films and many of them were not wonderful but "Evergreen" (1934),"First a Girl" (1935) and "It's Love Again" (1936) are among the top musicals ever made. "It's Love Again" was the first British film to have it's premiere in New York at the Roxy, before the British opening. She was always being courted by Hollywood and the time would have been ideal after the American premiere of "It's Love Again". She was having marriage problems then and in hind sight going to the States could have given her a whole new career but at the time she was praised for her loyalty in staying in Britain. Definitely "It's Love Again" is, in my opinion, her best film. No expense was spared either in the musical numbers or in the importation of American leading man Robert Young.Mr. Raymond (Ernest Milton) is desperate for a leading lady for his new show and Elaine Bradford (Jessie Matthews) a down on her luck chorus girl is eager to audition for him. For her first attempt she sings and dances to the lilting "It's Love Again" - she also makes the acquaintance of Peter Carlton (Robert Young) a reporter - they dance a soft shoe together. In the middle of her audition, an old flame of Raymond's arrives and between reminiscences of West End, he engages her for the shows leading lady - Elaine goes home determined to make a name for herself as she thinks that is the only way to succeed.Carlton, along with his sidekick Freddie (Sonnie Hale, Jessie's husband at the time) is a reporter without a scoop!!! Freddie suggests they invent a fascinating, adventurous lady that only they can write about - Mrs. Smythe- Smythe!!! Elaine, still unemployed, decides to impersonate Mrs. Smythe-Smythe to get some publicity. She arrives at the Imperial Palace with Cyril Wells (Matthews occasional dancing partner). Together they dance "We Have Met Before" - Jessie looks splendid in a barely there silvery evening gown. She meets up with Peter and begs him to let her go on with her impersonation (they do a lovely "footsie" dance to "It's Love Again").She is invited to an Eastern Bazaar ball where she has to improvise a Hindu dance - and she does!!! in an amazingly risqué costume made of glittering jewels and not much else, plus an elaborate head-dress!!! She dances to Roy Fox Band's "Tony's in Town" - she's wonderful!!! The evening ends with a shooting match between Elaine and a crusty old colonel. On the way home she sees Raymond and executes an impromptu dance to impress him - "Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing" is a light hearted, bouncy song that Jessie performs in a park. At the song's end all the passers by join in the chorus, including a couple of baritone bobbies!!! Raymond is impressed and promises to put her name up in lights - "Mrs Smythe- Smythe"!!! (Elaine had wanted to make it on her own). She is starred in a spectacular musical "Safari" and the show stopping finale "I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Through My Fingers" features that silver spangled cat suit - the outfit that shocked Michael Balcon and is always mentioned in articles about Jessie. The dance itself is amazing, as Elaine first sings the song, then dances with a chorus line, then does a dazzling dance with her partner Cyril. She is then exposed by a rival reporter as a fake but is determined to come back as Elaine Bradford. She is then seen in a montage of dances she has performed throughout the film and Raymond realises he had the right girl from the start.Robb Wilton has an excellent role as Boys, the butler.Highly, Highly Recommended.

spj-4 I've seen a few Jessie Matthews' musicals on late-night TV & they are all enjoyable. I regard her as an underrated talent from her era as I hadn't heard of her until the last few years. She has an effervescence & innocence about her that is ideally suited to such light & breezy productions & her almost accidental forays into fame & fortune."It's Love Again" is my personal favourite as the songs in it are mostly very appealing. It also gains from having a youthful Robert Young as a leading man & the settings for the musical numbers are impressive. This is much better than a typical time-filler of a late-night movie!