For my contribution to the Backlots Hitchcock Halloween Blogathon
I chose the only comedy Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, did, Mr. and
Mrs. Smith, starring my all time favorite actress Carole Lombard. This is my
favorite film of hers by the way. Screwball comedies are my favorite type of
films and this one fits quite nicely into that category. Well a bit. While not
a full blown screwball comedy, it is quite fun and often hilarious
nonetheless. And it does feature a little suspense every now and then. Well not really but you can still enjoy this film as a departure from what Hitchcock normally does.
David looking worried at the film's
beginning
The film is set in bustling New York and begins with a married
couple of three years named David and Ann Smith (great pairing of Robert
Montgomery and Carole Lombard) who tend to bicker and have these huge arguments
from time to time when they are not speaking to one another. Such is the case
at the film's beginning as the pair have been sequestered in their lavish
apartment home while their staff shuttles them food and drink. This latest
misunderstanding has been going on for three days and David's office, a law
firm where his pal Jeff (a solid Gene Raymond) keeps calling to see has a truce
been made. As Jeff sends over some critical papers for David to sign, the pair
finally makes up and end up having breakfast together.
Ann and David make up after this three day
session
But Ann asks a question which prompts an answer from David that
doesn't exactly make her happy. She asks David if he had it to do it all over again
would he. And he puts in honestly and bluntly, no he would not. He would not
marry her and would remain single. Remember this key moment as it will become
the focal point for the rest of the film.
But not for long because over breakfast
Ann asks that pivotal question
While at work, David receives a guest in the form of Mr. Deever
(Charles Halton) from Ann's hometown of Idaho comes a calling saying that the
Smith's, along with several other hundreds of couples are not technically
married, through some municipal and state jurisdictional matter at the
time. David takes the news quite nicely but when Mr. Deever stops by their home
to share the same news with Ann and Ann's mother, it doesn't have the same
effect.
At dinner David tries to get the cat to
have some soup...
David calls up and tells Ann they are going to
the restaurant where he proposed to her and Ann believes it's where
he will pop the question again. But alas things don't go that way and Ann
begins to squirm as the night draws to a close. Meanwhile David is having the
time of his life. Back home for a little champagne Ann finally snaps and throws
a tantrum asking if and when David was going to ever marry her again. David
tries to explain that he was just waiting for the right moment and before you
know he is spending the night at The Beefeater's Club, a luxurious hotel where
men go who are having domestic troubles. It's there he meets the seen it all
Chuck (played by the always wonderful Jack Carson), who is a frequent regular
at the hotel.
Mr. Deever drops by to share some news...
David tries to woo back Ann over the course of the rest of the
film but Ann is steadfast in holding her ground. Saying she doesn't want to
remarry David and instead finds a job and actually starts dating Jeff, much to
David's chagrin. In fact the date Ann and Jeff goes on leads to a hilarious
seen after Jeff catches cold and Ann tries to nurse him back to health with
some liquor. At first Jeff is good to go but then it hits him like a ton of
bricks and Gene Raymond gives a masterful drunken little scene.
The gorgeous Carole
For the first hour, this film is golden. It does start to sag
during the final half hour just a bit as Ann and Jeff take a getaway vacation
to Lake Placid, in which David follows. But it rebounds right back during the
closing scenes to make this a wonderful film. Like I said it is my favorite of
Carole, and that's saying something, considering her resume which includes To
Be Or Not To Be, Twentieth Century and My Man Godfrey. It's just something
about this premise of a couple who truly love each other despite all their
fighting and bickering. It's classic Hollywood star power in Carole and Robert
with solid supporting turns by a great cast. If you have never seen it, you have to check it
out at least once. And it's great seeing Hitchcock do an all out comedy as most of his films always some humor and comedy in them. So you knew he was capable of doing a film like this. And he did it awesomely!
Carole does a lot of finger pointing in this movie..haha
