Der Herzensbrecher

There's a silly plot about a philanderer (DENNIS MORGAN) who wants to play the field while in Lisbon on a journalistic assignment and making a play for lovely RITA HAYWORTH. But as soon as he finds out his wife is divorcing him, he's back in the USA plotting a way to win back her affection to make her jealous.

Under Lloyd Bacon's direction, this is a formula screwball comedy that hasn't got enough wit to make it shine and relies heavily on the cast to give it some life. Morgan is only mildly amusing in his attempt to play a comic role with GEORGE TOBIAS getting some of the best lines. But Rita does well as a flirtatious lady who'd like to take him away from Merle and RALPH BELLAMY is good in another one of his thankless roles as the man who loses the girl.

Despite the cast, it's too trite to be really enjoyable and the gags just don't work. Even HATTIE McDANIEL and BUTTERFLY McQUEEN are ill used for whatever laughs the script can spare. The slapstick ending with Morgan pretending to be an accident case, just strains credibility until the finish.

Not worth your time.

It's Rita Hayworth day on TCM! the cast list is just a roll call of great stars at Warner Brothers. Here, she's Irene, dancing in a nightclub in Lisbon, with Rick Mayberry (Dennis Morgan). trouble is, he's married. but at least Rick is honest, and tells Irene he's already married. released in May 1941, so a couple months BEFORE WW II breaks out. we were still happy and upbeat. even two guys dancing together, in the club. progressive, for 1941 ! Irene is ALSO on the plane home, so that will probably complicate things. Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen work for Susan (Merle Oberon, aka MRS. Mayberry !) McDaniel and McQueen had BOTH just had huge roles in Gone with the Wind. Ralph Bellamy is Owen Wright (Mister Right, of course) Susan's new boyfriend. they got chummy while Rick was traveling the world, getting chummy with Irene! George Tobias was a master of accents, and here, he's Rick's photographer. we all know him better as Abner, the next door neighbor on Bewitched. James Gleason is his boss back home, and doesn't help matters any. the bottom line here is that Susan can't seem to really decide if she's still in love with Rick, and strings both guys along to see if Rick still loves her. gets annoying after a while. and everyone is in on the act. so many shenanigans. does she still love him or not?? Directed by Lloyd Bacon. no oscars, but made some great films. this one was a bit too silly and overdone for me. i enjoyed the scene where Hattie McDaniel ends up with the bouquet and starts walking down the aisle. funny, considering it was filmed in 1941. different times.

This is a late and modest entry into the screwball comedy genre. As such, all the performers are frenetic, histrionic, and act in broad, bold strokes. Performers falling into water is a running joke. There is no dry humor in this film. Unfortunately, no good lines either; it has a script of shtick patched together from older and better comedies.

But the other woman here acts as an intelligent person and has a natural manner. Since it is Rita Hayworth herself, she is naturally beautiful. It suggests a script writers dilemma: other woman has to be less desirable than the female lead, but they have to be desirable enough for the male lead to be attracted by them. In this movie, Rita Hayworth is so much more appealing in every way than Merle Oberon that it renders the plot silly.

The racial stereotypes are prominent here, with Hattie MacDanial and Butter McQueen doing routines they could have done in their sleep. Had they had sharp,incisive funny lines, we might have had a guilty laugh or two from these offensive stereotypes. As they were simply stereotypes to laugh at, it is now only offensive.

For me the brightest spots of this movie are Rita Hayworth and Dennis Morgan. The love triangle, which also includes Merle Oberon, is complicated by interference from Ralph Bellamy and others (at times it's difficult to be sure whose side Rita is on.) Standing by are Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen, who are rooting for Morgan all the way. The backdrop of the newspaper business - as well as the presence of Ralph Bellamy - reminds one slightly of "His Girl Friday." Not a terrifically funny comedy, but worthwhile, especially for fans of any of the cast members.

Dennis Morgan, Merle Oberon, Rita Hayworth, and Ralph Bellamy are "Affectionately Yours" in this 1941 comedy. Morgan is a newspaper reporter who travels constantly.

His current amour is Malcolm (Hayworth), and he gives her the same story he's given all of them - his wife (Oberon) won't divorce him.

However, he receives a telegram stating that she has, and he panics. He rushes home to New York, with Malcolm right behind him, and tries to woo her back. She's planning to marry Mr. Wright (Bellamy), who is more than disturbed by the fact that she still seems interested in her husband.

This is a fairly trite comedy with some very funny slapstick and, of course, two of the screen's most beautiful women, Oberon and Hayworth.

This film was made just before Hayworth broke through into big stardom, and she's delicious. She has the best role in the film. It always amuses me to see her so vivacious and talkative on screen.

According to one of her biographers, when the kids from the old neighborhood saw her on screen for the first time, they were shocked at how much she was talking. She never talked as a young girl.

Though she didn't really like movie stardom, the screen was where she could let herself go and be someone else. Morgan is attractive and just right as the errant husband.

Bellamy is in his usual role as the man who doesn't get the girl, and he does beleaguered very well.

Oberon lends sophistication and class to the film. Someone commented here that she looked plump. I don't know what they're talking about.

This is a good movie to see for the stars. The story isn't much.