REVIEW: With so many new films, made-for-TV and straight-to-video films coming out on DVD, it is a crime that minor masterpieces like this are still not available -- even on video tape! I have wanted to see this film for years as I am both a serious film buff and a Preston Sturges fan. Since there are millions of screwball film fans who love good romantic comedies, like BRINGING UP BABY, IT HAPPEN ONE NIGHT, NOTHING SACRED, MY MAN GODFREY, THE MIRACLE OF MORGANS CREEK, etc. I think we should all write letters to MGM/Warner Brothers and request it be released ASAP! Having finally found it myself I recommend it highly! Janet Leigh is wonderful, beautiful, captivating, sweet and very convincing with a charming southern accent. Dashing Ezio Pinza is an adequate actor until Janet comes along and he lights up from within. They have wonderful chemistry together. And even though I am not an opera buff his bold basso voice is filled with warm passion and made my girlfriend cuddle all the closer
The film shines with effervescent Sturges dialogue and sparkles with wit and snappy twists on sophisticated and street wise observations. As with the classic films that were both written and directed by Preston Sturges, the character actors and supporting roles are given the best gags and the stars are there for us to admire, lust after and identify with. Hundreds of great films like this gem are slowly fading away from neglect. Let's preserve all the good old films we can so our grandchildren can enjoy the same movies that entertained our grandparents! Out of four stars I would give this wonderful little soufflé THREE STARS!
PLOT (with spoilers): In the mid-1920's New York, Bill Dempsey (Millard Mitchell) is an agent trying to protect his good friend and client, a bass opera singer named Count but who goes by Gus (Ezio Pinza) avoid any messy public scandals. But when the womanizing opera star refuses to sing with the untalented wife of a newspaper publisher, Dempsey knows this will lead to trouble. The angry husband uses his publication's photographers to embarrass the famous singer by splicing his picture into several scandalous tabloid poses. Southern belle music student Isabelle Dempsey (a very sweet and fetching Janet Leigh) is engaged to a New Jersey insurance salesman, but works hard to join the cast of the opera so she can be near her hero Count/Gus. She talks her way into to the cast as a super and appears next to her idol only to be handed a prop sword during an important number. Star struck and dumbfounded she allows the sword's handle to hover over an open flame before absent mindedly handing it back OUCH!!! This "meet cute" leads to more complications when Isabelle tries to apologize but is rushed away. She persuades her fiancee to take her to the speakeasy Gus frequents to try and apologize. After meeting up and asking forgiveness, Isabel and Gus are left alone for a while when the fiancee must step outside. When he returns he finds them dancing, he blows his top and abandons her there. Bill suspects her motives and believes she is a plant to further embarrass Gus and warns him of a set-up. Gus though, is smitten and turns up his wolfish charms offering her a place for the night. After a series of plot twists, they feel they must marry immediately to avoid a bigger scandal. Meanwhile a manipulative lawyer persuades Countess Lili Szadvany (Maria Palmer), Gus's most recent girlfriend to sue for breach of promise. This leads to more complications and behind the scenes manipulations. Also an Italian maid and Italian mother are thrown in to stir up the soup before they decide, "to heck with the scandals" and they take a train to Niagara Falls Florida?
PLOT (with spoilers): In the mid-1920's New York, Bill Dempsey (Millard Mitchell) is an agent trying to protect his good friend and client, a bass opera singer named Count but who goes by Gus (Ezio Pinza) avoid any messy public scandals. But when the womanizing opera star refuses to sing with the untalented wife of a newspaper publisher, Dempsey knows this will lead to trouble. The angry husband uses his publication's photographers to embarrass the famous singer by splicing his picture into several scandalous tabloid poses. Southern belle music student Isabelle Dempsey (a very sweet and fetching Janet Leigh) is engaged to a New Jersey insurance salesman, but works hard to join the cast of the opera so she can be near her hero Count/Gus. She talks her way into to the cast as a super and appears next to her idol only to be handed a prop sword during an important number. Star struck and dumbfounded she allows the sword's handle to hover over an open flame before absent mindedly handing it back OUCH!!! This "meet cute" leads to more complications when Isabelle tries to apologize but is rushed away. She persuades her fiancee to take her to the speakeasy Gus frequents to try and apologize. After meeting up and asking forgiveness, Isabel and Gus are left alone for a while when the fiancee must step outside. When he returns he finds them dancing, he blows his top and abandons her there. Bill suspects her motives and believes she is a plant to further embarrass Gus and warns him of a set-up. Gus though, is smitten and turns up his wolfish charms offering her a place for the night. After a series of plot twists, they feel they must marry immediately to avoid a bigger scandal. Meanwhile a manipulative lawyer persuades Countess Lili Szadvany (Maria Palmer), Gus's most recent girlfriend to sue for breach of promise. This leads to more complications and behind the scenes manipulations. Also an Italian maid and Italian mother are thrown in to stir up the soup before they decide, "to heck with the scandals" and they take a train to Niagara Falls Florida?