Once More, My Darling

I'd never heard of this flick until I stumbled across it on a streaming service, but Ann Blyth is sensational as a strong-willed teenager who turns the American courtship ritual on its head. She takes romantic aim at a middle-aged lawyer/actor/Army investigator who's arranged to meet her under false pretences, then finds himself completely overmatched. Once Blyth takes control, ever-reliable star Robert Montgomery has little left to do except react to this remarkable character. A first-rate cast, hilarous script, and fine direction by Montgomery himself hand the audience a lot of laughs in a wonderful hour and a half.

Engaging comedy with a rather nutty premise but the skillful playing of the cast make it work. Ann Blyth embraces her inner ditz as the bubbly, forward teen who is instantly smitten with Montgomery on sight. Montgomery, one of the best light comedians of Golden Age Hollywood, carries the film right along with an air of deer in the headlights helplessness at the onslaught of ardor that Ann's character unleashes his way. Theatre great Jane Cowl is also highly amusing in one of only four film appearance's as Bob's mother.

One small drawback. Montgomery is a perfect choice for the breeziness necessary to make his character work but he was 45 at the time this was made and looks it, whereas Ann Blyth was 24 playing 19 and is convincing as such making their pairing a bit off. They would have been better paired as a father and daughter at this point. Be that as it may this is still a pleasant little known film.

This movie is so cute! I'm a sucker for May-December romances, and when two good-looking people are the romantic leads it always makes a movie better, so I was all set to like this romantic comedy starring Robert Montgomery and Ann Blyth. Even if you don't have a crush on him like I do, the adorableness of the romance might win you over. It's very cute, and Bob and Ann are so darling together.

The premise is a little odd, but it has to be, so you'll expect and accept the oddness of Ann's character. Bob is a WWII veteran-turned-actor, and he's called in for a special government assignment because of his acting experience. He's tasked with seducing a young debutant, Ann Blyth, so that her ex-boyfriend, who's wanted by the government for stolen jewelry, will get jealous and surface from his hideout. Yes, it's odd, but when Bob meets Ann, it gets even odder, so you'll need to be prepared. Ann falls in love with him at first sight and becomes obsessed with spending every minute with him until they're married, preferably as soon as possible!

To me, it's not that unbelievable, because if I bumped into Robert Montgomery, I'd want to spend every minute with him, too. However, the hilarious dialogue makes sure every audience member is shocked, even me. Ann prances around in her pajamas, Bob turns his face away from a kiss, insisting she won't have any respect for him if he gives in, and they both have the audience in stitches before the movie's even halfway over.

Check out this adorable comedy that's a time capsule of the 1940s, that glorious time when couples had to get married to express their love and going away for the weekend was scandalous. You'll get to see two very adorable people, and Ann balances and transitions perfectly from child to adult, since she was very young at the time but starting to play romantic leads. Bob is cute and charming, and he directed the movie, too!

Ann Blyth showcases her fine comedic sense in this warm, often zany film. Nicknamed "Killer," her character is fond of "Passionelle," a perfume which she practically bathes in, and Robert Montgomery, in the role of "Collie," whose mission is to bust her estranged boyfriend for jewel smuggling. One highlight is when Montgomery, a momma's boy, introduces Killer to his mother and friends. Blyth masterfully mines this scene for its full comic worth. "Once More, My Darling" is one gem of a movie with a great slapstick ending.

After the turning point of NIGHT MUST FALL, Robert Montgomery (for the most time) came into his finest films and performances: HERE COMES MR. JORDAN, THEY WERE EXPENDABLE, THE LADY IN THE LAKE, RIDE THE PINK HORSE, THE SAXON CHARM, JUNE BRIDE. Even some of the failures he was in were interesting enough to be still watchable (RAGE IN HEAVEN, MR. AND MRS. SMITH). But Montgomery wanted to do more and more production and directing work. In 1949 he made what would be his last movie performance - he played Collier Lang, an egotistical movie star, who is dragged into helping the authorities do an investigation about a young girl's boyfriend.

Apparently my view of this film is a minority view. Most of the views given are favorable about it. I thought it was a dull, witless script, with Ann Blyth's groupie heroine not very appealing as a character. She admires Montgomery as a star, and this "helps" when he is called in to assist the authorities, but after awhile I found there was no chemistry between them. The script was also devoid of much fun, although Montgomery and Roland Winters did try. The only thing I recall to this day as a joke point was that Taylor Holmes is the wealthy father of Blyth, and he is an admirer of Winston Churchill. So he always dresses up as Churchill, and we see him wearing a floppy broad brimmed hat, smoking a large cigar, and painting (Holmes' bald head helps in the disguise). That was the most memorable joke from this film - not much of a real memory.

Montgomery went into early television, and finally won the attention and respect he always had deserved in motion pictures. His last contact with the movies was his direction of THE GALLANT HOURS about Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, starring his friend Jimmy Cagney. It is a far better film than this. For his overall film and television career, I will give this mediocre film a "4". That strikes me as generous.