Reviews of movies with Cary Grant.
Wednesday, May 14th 2008
Grade: C-
Synopsis: A schoolteacher (Jean Arthur) hides a wanted man (Cary Grant) who poses as a gardener around her other tenant, a stuffy law professor (Ronald Colman).
The Talk of the Town is an uneven comedy-drama that benefits greatly from the presences of Cary Grant and Ronald Colman.
The film’s biggest problem is that it works far better as a drama than as a comedy. Whereas someone like Billy Wilder can blend the two genres seamlessly, The Talk of the Town often stutters and grinds when it attempts to change gears from drama to comedy. And that’s frustrating because it’s clear these hiccups aren’t insurmountable, and that simple rewrite or two by someone with Wilder’s talents could have overcome them, but, as is, the film is frustratingly uneven. MORE »
Posted at 1:01 PM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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Monday, April 21st 2008
Grade: B
Synopsis: A young man (Cary Grant) becomes engaged to a rich heiress, only to find he may have more in common with her “black sheep” sister (Katharine Hepburn).
Holiday is a fun movie and light years better than stars Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn’s previous pairing, Bringing Up Baby (1938).
The key here is Hepburn, who thankfully isn’t asked to do much in the way of physical comedy and has a role that allows her to play a more down to earth character. The result is some great chemistry with Grant and a character that’s actually likable.
For his part, Grant gets a chance to show off with some of his vaudeville flips and tumbles, while pouring on the charm. Here, for the first time in his career, are the hints of how big a star Grant would become, in the way he effortlessly wins over not only Hepburn’s character, but the whole audience as well. MORE »
Posted at 2:33 PM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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Monday, April 7th 2008
Grade: D+
Synopsis: A couple (Irene Dunne and Cary Grant) tries to spoil each other’s new romances before their divorce becomes final.
The Awful Truth is an agreeable enough comedy featuring some good lines and nice performances, until the final third when it goes off the rails.
The film starts out well enough, with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne cruising easily through the light comedy. There are several great lines, particularly from the supporting cast, that will have you chuckling, and the script seems refreshingly literate.
Unfortunately, the problem comes at almost exactly the two-thirds mark, when the script plunges precipitously into “screwball” comedy and features Dunne impersonating Grant’s character’s non-existent sister in order to sabotage his burgeoning romance. Not only is it unbelievable, but, more importantly, it’s not funny and only succeeds in draining any sympathy the audience might have had for Dunne’s character. And it’s all downhill from here as Dunne’s character nearly gets Grant’s character arrested, trashes their car, and strands him at her country home. Then, despite all this, we’re expected to believe that he realizes how much he still loves her. The ridiculous, self-absorbed nature of Dunne’s character’s actions is reminiscent of Katharine Hepburn’s character in Bringing Up Baby (1938), with similar results. MORE »
Posted at 2:08 PM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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Friday, April 4th 2008
Grade: D+
Synopsis: A diplomat (Deborah Kerr) plays chaperone while her ex-fiancé (Cary Grant) courts an Arab princess.
Dream Wife is an airy comedy featuring two very likable stars in Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Unfortunately, it’s just not very funny.
Director Sidney Sheldon goes for cheap laughs when dealing with Arabic culture and fails at every turn. The Arabs cover their hotel room in sheets and send crates of goats as a dowry, yet get off the plane to New York wearing western clothes and asking for hot dogs.
Further, the script, credited to three writers including Sheldon, builds interesting premise dealing with a woman’s role in 1950’s society, but just when it has a chance to make an actual statement, it crumbles into a very implausible yet formulaic romantic comedy that ages poorly. MORE »
Posted at 6:04 PM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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Friday, April 4th 2008
Grade: B+
Synopsis: A seemingly cynical pilot (Cary Grant) running mail through the mountains of Peru finds his life complicated by the arrival of a chorus girl (Jean Arthur).
Only Angels Have Wings is the spiritual forerunner of director Howard Hawks’ later masterpiece Rio Bravo (1959), that, with a better leading lady, could have been its equal.
Unfortunately, Jean Arthur just isn’t up to the task. While other Hawks ladies such as Lauren Bacall and Angie Dickenson excelled at conveying the subtle, sultry, vibe Hawks strove for, Arthur seems unwilling or incapable. As a result, she sticks out among the cast as an artificial oddity, causing Grant’s character’s attraction to her to seem a lot more implausible. Granted, Rita Hayworth, in her biggest role to date, also struggles, but she ultimately acquits herself far better than Arthur. MORE »
Posted at 12:53 PM in Movie Reviews, Cary Grant and Howard Hawks.
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