Movie. Unfaithfully Yours, 1948. (HIx: 2)
Annoying at first because of Rex Harrison’s continual irritability, this movie becomes more and more funny, interjected with horrifying segues. Recommended.
It is a kind of imagined Othello. The evil suggestions of brother-in-law regarding the faithfulness of Rex Harrison’s wife are at first violently rejected, but then begin to play on his mind. Various stratagems are considered in detail as jealousy overwhelms his mind. He is a conductor, so the movie has the chance to work in some marvelous symphonic pieces (including Rossini, Wagner and Tchaikovsky) which complement the theme in an ingenious way.
Mixed in is some slapstick of uneven success: the first slapstick scene, with the fire, is long and not very funny; the one near the end with Harrison trying to carry out his revenge is very funny indeed, though it too could use a little editing.
Writer and director is Preston Sturges, who was unknown to me but (it turns out) was one of the big shots of the 1940s. The DVD includes a commentary track with a panel of critics that are very knowledgeable about the movie, the people, and the genre.
I saw this film not long ago, and I wasn’t quite sure what I thought of it. It was different. And when I saw that it was directed by Preston Sturges, I could see his style there.
I’ve seen other Sturges films, like Sullivan’s Travels and Miracle of Morgan’s Creek. I think they are popular among later generations; many younger folks like the Sturges movies because they are more like today’s comedy style: frenetic, over-the-top, usually mocking and cynical. I guess the very things that most people like about Sturges’ films these days are the very things I don’t like.
Incidentally the Coen Brothers of recent Hollywood fame are big fans of Sturges, and you can see his influence in their films, especially ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ — the title of which came from Sullivan’s Travels.
To each his own; I admit my tastes are more towards old-fashioned, square, sentimental movies.
Comment by Vanishing American — November 13, 2006 @ 11:17 pm
Well, comedy that is (a) actually funny and (b) not an assault on everything decent, seems to be very hard to create. So I take it where I can get it.
Comment by Tim H — November 16, 2006 @ 11:24 am