Love Is Better Than Ever (1952) User Reviews

Liz, the unlucky beauty in a classic mismatch

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 7/10 · 17 January 2009]

In "The Big Hangover," Liz is the boss' beautiful daughter; in "Conspirator," she's an immature young wife in love; in "The Girl Who Had Everything," she's the daughter of a wealthy criminal lawyer, but in "Love Is Better Than Ever," she is a young dance school teacher from New Haven who comes to the big city for a convention and falls for a smart talent agent…

In these four films, Taylor is cast as the innocent who selects the wrong guy and the unlucky beauty in a classic mismatch…

In both "Love Is Better Than Ever" and "The Girl Who Had Everything," she's a spirited young lady with a mind of her own… In the former, she defies her small-town upbringing as she romances a city swindler… In the latter, she challenges her father in order to run off with a bon vivant with underworld connections… In "Conspirator," the misfortune girl marries a Communist… In "The Big Hangover," she's engaged to a man with a drinking problem… And in "Elephant Walk," her husband is a wealthy and potent planter with a really bad temper…

These five ladies are variations on the young innocent star who thinks she knows more than she does… In each movie, she has to be educated… The wildly careless spirit has to be limited and corrected…

In "Love Is Better Than Ever," Liz is even more provincial, an innocent tempted but never corrupted by big city frivolous amusement, a teasing beauty who falls for a cheerful bachelor... Liz is once again the determined pursuer, setting her sights on a man who does not want to marry… Shameless and stubborn, she decides to announce her engagement, hoping that fiction may stimulate fact

Better Than Many Reviews Have Suggested

[Clothes-Off · 6/10 · 21 October 2007]

I went into this with the full expectation of turning it off once I got the gist of it, and got a good look at Elizabeth Taylor just at the point her career and her beauty were reaching their heights. Surprisingly, I watched it all the way through and enjoyed several mildly humorous moments--no great belly laughs, but solidly amusing moments nonetheless.

The plot is paper thin, and it's a compliment that director Stanley Donen was able to get a full length feature out of what could easily been a short pilot for a sitcom. Also escalating the material are Old Pro character actors at the top of their game, such as Kathleen Freeman as a loyal seamstress and Ann Doran as the meddling mother of Elizabeth Taylor's dance rival, played by a very young (and blond) Elinor Donihue. It is no wonder these ladies enjoyed very lengthy careers in literally hundreds of films.

But the real heart of the film is Taylor's lovable, understanding father played by Tom Tully, as the type of Dad we wish we all had, but few actually did.

The only part of this film that hasn't aged well is the lead character, played by Larry Parks. This film was made at a time when male characters got away with far more sexist behavior than any man would get away with today. In fact, if a man in New York--no matter how well dressed or handsome--behaved in such ways toward a woman he just met today...well, she'd probably summon the nearest police officer! If you're willing to overlook that major flaw, you might enjoy this romantic comedy, especially the madcap children's dance recital at the end. The kids are terrible throughout the film, which makes it all the more funny.

The dance teacher and the agent

[blanche-2 · 5/10 · 21 January 2006]

Larry Parks is a fast-talking, streetwise agent who falls for a Connecticut dance teacher against his will in "Love is Better Than Ever," directed by Stanley Donen. Parks and Taylor have a whirlwind romance in New York while she's there attending a dance teacher convention. She falls in love, only to learn at the end of their week together that he's only interested in a good time. Heartbroken, she returns to Connecticut, where her father helps her hatch a plot that will bring him running to New Haven and into her arms.

This is a very slight comedy, but Taylor is exquisitely beautiful and in excellent shape. It's no wonder that cynical Larry Parks can't forget her, though he claims that he wants to. In one scene, they stand and talk in profile for several minutes, and all one can think about is how perfect Taylor's profile is. Larry Parks is another story - a very strange choice for a leading man. Had he not been blacklisted, it's likely he would have gone on to character roles fairly quickly. For a studio that boasted the likes of Clark Gable and Robert Taylor, it's curious that he was cast in leads. He is, however, a very good actor, though it's hard to see why Taylor would have been attracted to him. Sadly, he only made two films after this one.

There are some nice dance sequences with the children, including some dancing fruits. "Love is Better Than Ever" has some nice moments and a dazzling 20-year-old Taylor, and that's about it.

Entertaining

[willrams · 7/10 · 27 February 2003]

Stanley Dornen directed this cute love story about a dancing teacher (wow Taylor really is gorgeous here) and she goes to New York for a convention but gets sidetracked into her first love affair with Larry Parks, who really doesn't want to give up his solo life. Things change at the dancing school where people talk about it like a big scandal as she is so much younger than he. But with all the waiting and shenanigans they finally end up in eachother's arms after a false wedding announcement. The story is cute, the dancing is terrific, and acting is superb, and even a Giant Baseball player, George Metkovich is in it. Larry Parks was the Giant fan.

A lot better than I thought it would be!

[belcanto26 · 6/10 · 28 July 2006]

I just saw this film this morning on Turner Movie Classics, and was actually very surprised. The film is certainly pleasant to watch, and some of it is actually funny and very appealing. The two stars merit comment. Larry Parks, of course, turned out to be a truly tragic figure in Hollywood, and he was virtually decimated by the Hollywood black list in the 1950's. As the head reviewer on this page said, Parks would probably have evolved into an excellent character actor had his career not been destroyed (his wife, actress Betty Garrett, herself said in an interview that Park's life was ruined by the Hollywood blacklisting. To our country's shame, many others shared the same fate. In this film, he is convincing and moderately successful, but opposite Elizabeth Taylor, one would have expected a more handsome leading man. Elizabeth Taylor, at age 20, is, of course, drop-dead gorgeous, but more importantly, she exudes an appeal and demeanor that is altogether winning. She had this same quality in such films as "The Last Time I Saw Paris", "Father of the Bride", and "Giant". Then she entered her most intense period with the films that brought her Oscar nominations (as well as two Oscars). It's a shame that after "Virginia Woolf", her second Oscar-winning performance, she essentially kept repeating the same loudmouthed strident type of demeanor. She was never able to regain the vulnerability and tenderness that she so beautifully demonstrated during the early and middle 1950's. Of course her much publicized personal life played a major part. In essence, she became a parody of herself in the late 1960's and never recovered. Whatever the case, "Love is Better than Ever" is worth watching for the light entertainment, the uniqueness of Larry Parks, and above all, for the charm and sweetness Elizabeth Taylor brought to the screen at this stage of her career.

Larry Parks? C'mon, where's the real leading man?

[twhiteson · 4/10 · 15 March 2018]

This lightweight rom-com is probably only noteworthy for being one of several vehicles that MGM used in the early '50's to transition their former child/teen star, Elizabeth Taylor, into more adult roles. Here she plays a young Connecticut woman, still living with her parents, who falls for a free-wheeling NYC bachelor and decides to reel him to be her husband despite his repeated attempts to avoid her snares.

On the surface, this may have worked as very lighthearted romantic comedy similar to the 1948 film, "Every Girl Should Be Married" which featured a young woman (Betsy Drake) using all sorts of feminine wiles to ensnare a bachelor pediatrician (Cary Grant) into marriage. While "Every Girl Should Be Married" is certainly no great film, it was entertaining mainly because it had Cary Grant who could be believable as the object of a young woman's romantic obsession.

Unfortunately, "Love is Better Than Ever" doesn't have Cary Grant. Instead, it has Larry Parks. Who? Good question. From the opening moments of the film, one's jaw drops when a homely, middle-aged man walks onto the screen as the film's main character and the soon to be supposed romantic ideal for Elizabeth Taylor's character. Mr. Parks looks like somebody's dad or the nebbish next door. He does NOT look like the lead of a romantic comedy. His introduction as the film's lead almost instantly kills the film.

Mr. Parks was nearly 20 yrs older than Miss Taylor. Plus, in the looks department, Mr. Parks isn't in the same continent, let alone the same league as 19 yr old Liz. Yet, the audience was supposed to believe that her character would pursue him?!?! Movies often demand a suspension of disbelief, but this film demands way too much.

Yes, it was unfair that Mr. Parks' career was derailed by his testimony before HUAC just as it was really gaining momentum. (He got top billing over Miss Taylor for this film.) However, he was woefully miscast for this part, and that mistake pretty much killed this film from its very inception.

In sum: a tepid rom-com with a laughable male lead and an extremely pretty Liz Taylor who is often costumed in very skimpy dancing clothes. (As stated, her studio wanted to show her off as an adult actress.)

Cute, early Donen film...but.....

[Ripshin · 10 November 2004]

there is really very little to recommend. The young Taylor is beautiful, but Larry Parks in the lead it totally unbelievable. Perhaps the fact he looks like a clone of Regis Philbin doesn't help. How could Taylor's character fall for this guy?? And, what is Gene Kelly doing in this flick? It is just a cameo, but I don't see the point.

Supporting performances are fine, and there is a limited amount of location filming.

I'm not sure why Taylor agreed to this MGM B movie - perhaps due to contract obligations. Probably my least favorite Taylor film from the 50s/60s.

How to re-educate an inveterate bachelor or Elizabeth Taylor wins a theatrical agent

[lyubitelfilmov · 7/10 · 19 March 2023]

Melodrama, comedy. I came across this picture quite by accident, and I don't even remember exactly under what circumstances, but I got to it only six months after the events described. Elizabeth Taylor's face probably caught my attention. But the fact that the picture was shot by the notorious Stanley Donen (for whom this picture became the third in the filmography, and I watched as many as eight paintings from him). And I wanted to look at the young, but already attractive Elizabeth Taylor, because I associate her with the epic "Cleopatra" of 1963. As a result, the viewing left me with good impressions. And here's my brief opinion for you - How to re-educate an inveterate bachelor. I will note right away that there was not a single minus in the picture, because the technical level and the rustic scenario are not included in this in any way, so I will focus your attention on the advantages of this light melodrama.

So, here they are: 1. The script - a very successful theatrical agent Judd Parker meets a young and charming dance teacher Anastasia (Stacy) in New York Makaboy. They spend a whole week together and it seemed that things were clearly going to the wedding, but at the end of this magical week, Judd tells Stacey that there will be no continuation, because he is a bachelor, and after all, the girl fell in love with this cute scoundrel. And now, having returned home and told their dad about this, they begin to make a plan how to re-educate the bachelor Judd into a husband and a faithful family man, and the children from Stacy's music school should help in this. Yes, the script is simple and even naive. Perhaps now such a maneuver will not work for young people, but this picture is highlighted by good dialogues, acting and humor. The ending is guessed almost immediately, but you won't guess the way to it exactly, because you'll never guess, don't even try (I went through a bunch of options myself - I didn't guess with any). I am also glad that the script was not "weighted down" with unnecessary scenes, so this picture is "easily digested".

2. Humor - the main source of humor here are talented children, mostly Stacy's wards, and also a small kid in a scene at the stadium (I'll tell you a killer moment, be sure to look, get high!). How they masterfully "dynamited" Judd - oh, damn, it's just a must see. Personally, I laughed heartily. It looked cute, funny and funny at the same time. Our beautiful Stacey also humors, trying to evoke unprecedented emotions in Judd. My respects to screenwriter Ruth Brooks Flippen! Bravo!

3. Atmosphere - the picture evokes a light romantic mood, especially if you watch it in the company of the second half, and one will be interesting. After all, there is that "spark" between the actors, and how Judd kisses Stacey. Gently, tenderly. No wonder she fell in love with this scoundrel. There is not a single superfluous detail here. The viewer is simply shown a wonderful romantic story through cinema, which was interesting in those years, and this melodrama is definitely not deprived of quality, because the budget of the picture was decent (although financially MGM studio suffered losses, which is sad).

4. Costumes and scenery - despite the fact that the picture was shot in the pavilion, the feeling that New York is around does not leave the viewer for a minute. Maybe it's the scenery? Or in their number? Or maybe in the script? Or maybe in Elizabeth Taylor, who attracts the main attention of the audience? I think it's all together.

A little bit about the main characters: 1. Judd Parker, played by Larry Parks, is a well-known theatrical agent who had a good time with the young beauty Stacey without knowing what consequences it would lead to. A terrible egoist, a staunch bachelor, a rake, with an extremely narrow circle of interests (baseball). The role of this ladies' man was perfectly performed by Larry Parks. His hero looked convincing. Bravo!

2. Anastasia (Stacy) Makaboy performed by Elizabeth Taylor is a young dance teacher who arrived in New York on business, but found her love, although it took a lot of effort. A beautiful, determined, daring, naive girl who, for the sake of a goal, came up with such a rigmarole that not everyone will solve it. The beautiful Elizabeth was a pleasure to look at. She is only twenty years old here, and she already shines with her beauty and acting talent. Her evening dress - well, just aerobatics! And the rest of the outfits are pleasing to the eye. Elizabeth and Larry looked great together. Bravo Elizabeth! A whole pen!

Yes, the review turned out to be small, because there is nothing more to say.

My rating is 7 out of 10 and my recommendation for viewing!

Poor excuse for romantic comedy which certainly does not result in the "L" word.

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 19 February 2013]

Held for release for several years by MGM, this mediocre comedy has nothing to recommend really other than Elizabeth Taylor as a New Haven dance teacher who, determined to keep scandal from exploding after being spotted kissing talent agent Larry Parks, falsely announces their engagement. This leads to continuous misunderstandings, yet really creates no interesting plot. Other than character actors like Kathleen Freeman, Josephine Hutchinson and Ann Doran, there's little else, as Taylor and Parks (then in the middle of being involved unfortunately in the Hollywood blacklist) share no chemistry, she being a teen when this was made, albeit a very womanly one.

Such a plot couldn't be done with the sex reversed, so the plot is in really poor taste. The moppets who are part of Taylor's dance class try too hard to be cute, so the result is mainly cloying in supposedly farcial dance recital sequences. A surprise cameo by Gene Kelly as himself in one scene comes out of left field, more a publicity stunt for MGM rather than necessary. Having been on the shelf for several years already, MGM might have done better to have kept it there in the wake of Taylor's superstardom.

This Could Have Been Better and was

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 13 April 2012]

Even though the performers are kid performers Love Is Better Than Ever suffers from the fact that a musical performer should obviously have been in the lead. I'm guessing that Debbie Reynolds must have been otherwise engaged because this was clearly a vehicle that would have been good for her. Similarly MGM could have cast Marge and Gower Champion in the leads and given the Larry Parks role a dancing background to make it fit Gower.

Instead Elizabeth Taylor was assigned the role of the young dancing hopeful looking for a big break and who runs a dancing school to keep the bills paid. Liz clearly does not look comfortable doing the musical parts although she doesn't have to worry about the kids outshining her.

She meets up with Larry Parks who is a theatrical agent and a player and although he breaks her heart at first, she's determined to trap him. In fact she makes it a family project with parents Tom Tully and Josephine Hutchinson in on the game.

MGM took this same idea and did it much better three years later with The Tender Trap starring Frank Sinatra and wait for it Debbie Reynolds. That film is told from the man's point of view, but it is infinitely superior to Love Is Better Than Ever.

MGM held up the release of Love Is Better Than Ever because of the blacklist which Larry Parks was prominently on. When they did release it was in deference to Elizabeth Taylor whom they were trying to build up. The film did neither of their careers any good.

Great movie

[db42311 · 8/10 · 7 June 2008]

In my opinion, this was one of Elizabeth Taylor's best movies she ever starred in. In this film she was young, talented and even funny. I was fortunate enough to have caught this movie while it was playing on Turner Classic Movies, and fell in love with the movie. When I first saw it coming on Turner Classic Movies, I was hesitant to watch it, as I have not been a huge fan of Elizabeth Taylor's movies and don't normally follow her films or her career. This movie was better than my expectations and when it ended I wanted to watch it again. I have even tried to watch a few more films that Elizabeth Taylor starred in. I have been trying to catch another showing of the film ever since. The movie is not available on DVD and was only released on VHS back in 1993 so it is hard to find for home viewing. I hope that they release the movie onto DVD or Blu-Ray DVD in the near future and until then I hope that Turner Classic Movies continues to show it once in a while. I do think that the movie deserves more credit than it has received. If you get a chance to watch it, you will not be disappointed.

she deserves better

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 13 April 2020]

Jud Parker (Larry Parks) is a heartless agent on Broadway. He meets dance teacher Anastacia "Stacie" Macaboy (Elizabeth Taylor) in Connecticut. She comes to New York City for a convention where she runs into him again. They start going out which gets into the papers and rumors spread.

Of course, I'm watching this for Elizabeth Taylor. She is radiant. She deserves so much better than Larry Parks. Jud is a cold agent and Larry plays that well. That's a side character. That's not a romantic lead. Elizabeth Taylor is a superstar even at that time. She's young. She's hot. At best, she's 20 and trying to transition into adult roles but she is way above him in any case. Watching them side by side actually hurts my eyes. The movie keeps trying to say that she's desperate to get him when in reality, he's lucky to be in the same room.

Based on this evidence, let's hope not!

[Handlinghandel · 1/10 · 5 August 2006]

The young Elizabeth Taylor looks gorgeous. But she wears an unbecoming hairstyle. I have read about Larry Parks but never before this seen him in anything. I am very sympathetic to the tribulations he endured as a result of HUAC. Nevertheless, in this movie, he turns in such a sour, uninterested performance, he sinks the movie.

Not that there is much to sink. Taylor, yes. And Tom Tully, droll as her father. However, the ploy is negligible. And, as she plays a dancing teacher, we see dancing children. I love children but not here! The ostensibly cute dance scenes we have to watch wouldn't make it into a small town talent contest.

Maybe MGM was trying to figure out what to do with Taylor, no longer the child of "National Velvet." Thankfully, we have her earlier movies and many, many later ones.

Elizabeth Taylor Was Beautiful

[whpratt1 · 5/10 · 29 December 2006]

Elizabeth Taylor,(Anastacia Macaboy),"The Big Hangover", played the role of a dance school teacher who was young, beautiful and not very street wise, as she lived with her mom and dad and was very close to her mother. Anastacia has to go to a Dance School Conference in New York City and meets up with Larry Parks,(Jud Parker),"The Jolson Story" who is a much older man for Anastacia to get involved with. However, Jud sweeps her off her feet by taking her to Baseball games, Race tracks, Fight matches and wound up falling in love with Jud; these two stayed up all night long going to the 21 Club and many others and eventually going to bed with Jud, much to his satisfaction. Elizabeth Taylor during the filming was getting a divorce from Mickey Hilton and Elizabeth was having a torrid love affair with the director of this film. Taylor was truly very beautiful during this period in her life and had a long wonderful career ahead of her. Enjoy

A very young lady sets out to trap an older man.

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 18 May 2021]

The casting of "Love is Better Than Ever" is strange. Elizabeth Taylor was turning 20 the year she made this film. As for her romantic lead, Larry Parks, he was 38...and looked it. What an odd bit of casting....especially since Parks looks like a pretty ordinary guy.

Anastacia (Taylor) and her mother run a dancing school for children in Connecticut. On a trip to New York City for a convention, Anastacia goes out with Jud (Parks) and they spend a few days together. To him, it was nice but nothing more. As for her, she's head over heels in love...though it's a bit hard to figure out why. So, she and her father concoct a plan to trap Jud into marrying Anastacia...a woman he barely knows and with whom he seems to have little in common.

To say that the plot to this film is contrived and hard to believe is an understatement. It just seemed very hard to believe...though it was, at times, enjoyable. While I liked parts of the film the plot just seemed very frivolous and silly. A time-passer that simply should have been better.

wholesome

[RanchoTuVu · 8/10 · 4 January 2007]

A romantic comedy about how the fear of marriage was nearly enough to scare a guy (Larry Parks), a New York talent agent, away from the young and very good-looking Elizabeth Taylor. It portrays a wholesome family background set in suburban Connecticut, with Taylor living with her parents and the owner and number one dance instructor of a school which trains dozens of local children. Stanley Donen used the kids to good effect in several dance scenes, the best of which is the finale production the school puts on for the town, with Taylor standing in the middle of a long line of four to six year-olds. Her attraction to Parks' character forms the crux of the plot, bringing him to Connecticut and seeing his character as a savvy New York pro mingling with the small towners, a bit reminiscent of the story in The Music Man, where, after being subjected enough to the simple life, a cynical guy and committed bachelor finally gives in.

You must be kidding

[pswanson00 · 2/10 · 17 May 2021]

The character portrayed by Larry Parks is such a jackass that I cannot accept that any self-respecting woman would be interested in him, especially anyone as beautiful and capable as Elizabeth Taylor's character. I wanted to see more of the kids' dance classes.