Mr. & Mrs. '55

The chemistry between Guru Dutt and Madhubala is fantastic. Johnny Walker proves once again that he is the best side-kick of all time. The tone of the movie is ambivalent in that it is very depressing and optimistic at the same time.The music is incomparable. Simply put: an excellent all around film.

I always thought "Mr & Mrs '55" was a terrible title and surely there were better possibilities – it makes it sound pretty ordinary. Whereas it was a nice little romantic musical comedy and better than most of its contemporaries with some memorable upbeat music from O.P.Nayaar.

Anita, played by the gorgeous Madhubala, is forced to marry Preetam played by dashing Guru Dutt purely on her aunts orders but falls in love with him - much to her aunts disgust and opposition. It's engrossing enough a story but the jaunty yet earnest songs sung by Rafi and Geeta Dutt are the thing, especially Thandi Hawa (my all-time favourite Madhubala moment at the lido), Johnny Walker's infuriatingly catchy Jaane Kahan Mera, and the Rafi/Dutt duet Chal Diya Banda Nawaaz - beautifully sung beautiful lyrics always make me wish it had gone on another 10 minutes. Favourite bit; the amazingly heartrending scene where Anita realises how much in love she is, just before Udhar Tum. As a counterpoint to the overall optimism of this film it's sad to remember 9 years afterwards Dutt committed suicide at 39 and in 1969 Madhubala died of heart disease at only 36.

Overall, great stuff, wish I had a cleaner copy, and don't let the title put you off.

Mr And Mrs 55 (1955) : Brief Review -

Madhubala and Guru Dutt's exhilarant romantic comedy destroys the contract marriage concept and pseudo-feminism inspired by Western liberalism. Okay, so you can recall many films with the theme of contract marriage, where the girl is married to a man just to get the property. The girl actually falls in love with the man and is now looking to rekindle her relationship with him. However, the man doesn't want her now. That's an outdated formala now, but highly entertaining and enchanting. Imagine a film cracking this super entertaining formula in the 1950s for Bollywood. Some of those old Hollywood rom-coms or screwball comedies from 30s stand as inspirations for this Guru Dutt's romantic comedy, but it's the criticism of pseudo-feminism that makes it better. In the climax, Madhubala's character fearlessly speaks about Indian women and how she is happy with her husband and family, while criticizing the western liberalism of European countries, where girls/women can turn platonic affairs into marriage and continue doing so with several men. I just loved that part. On the other hand, Guru Dutt's character is seen taking a dig at the aunty, who hates men and is trying to bring foreign culture to Indian families. There are so many sensual and serious issues that the film deals with, but it all comes with a solid dose of comedy. Let's not forget what a fantastic comedy it is. Johnny Walker has played one of the finest characters of his career, and that iconic song, "Jaaen kaha mera jigar Gaya ji," was just WOW! So, there was Madhubala-a heavenly beauty-and yet i was attracted to Vinita Bhatt. Such a cute face and expressions she gave! Totally killer. Madhubala is evergreen, man; what else can I say about her? Timeless. Guru Dutt, who later became known for intense and dark movies, has done a terrific job as an actor and director. Such a "complete film" it is.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

This is a very enjoyable movie. It is about an unlikely pair, a poor sad-looking Guru Dutt, and a rich chirpy Madhubala. What you take away from this out-and-out comedy is ten O.P. Nayyar-helmed songs that you will always cherish. What I took away is one particular scene. Keep in mind, I was a school kid then. There is this serious monologue by Gurudutt. He speaks of the sad fate of people and that they don't have roti to eat. Madhubala listens too all this and then adds her two cents - If people don't have roti to eat, why don't they eat bread. I laughed and laughed.

Without giving away any of the surprises of this landmark Hindi film, this movie was clearly ahead of its time in its social commentary and its subtle satirical approach of the transitioning East Indian society post independence from the British Raj. It has a delightful blend of the effects of British influence upon Indian society and traditional Indian cultural & social values. This was very well balanced by Guru Dutt. Guruji proved his versatility in handling comedy as articulately as he did melodrama. With the assistance of the ensemble of Hindi cinema greats like Abrar Alvi, O. P. Nayyar, Majrooh Sultanpuri, etc., this movie is a another gem of the golden age of Hindi cinema.

Madhubala (real name Mumtaz Jehan Dehlavi), whose screen presence begs description, delivers a performance which captures all the emotions that could ever be desired in a film heroine. After Veena (1926-2004), Madhubala was the most beautiful actress ever to grace the silver screen of Hindi cinema. She was one of 2 of the all time greatest heroines in the history of Hindi cinema: The other was Meena Kumari (real name Mahjabeen Bano).

Almost as beautiful as Madhubala, is the Guru Dutt protégé Yasmin (born Vinita Bhatt in Lahore). Breathtakingly beautiful, it is incredible that Yasmin's screen career never took off. She reportedly married film technician, Englishman Jimmy Vinning. Yasmin appeared in a famous song sequence in RUSTOM SOHRAB (1963) starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Suraiya, Premnath, and Mumtaz.

As terrific a natural actor Guru Dutt was, he was better off behind the camera rather than in front of it. Guru Dutt was incomparable as a character actor which he proved in his own film SAHIB, BIBI, AUR GHULAM. With all due respect to his cinematic genius, Guruji should have cast either Dilip Kumar or Dev Anand in the role of Preetam. As for the comic sidekick, instead of Johny Walker, Shammi Kapoor should have been cast to match the beauty of Yasmin. It almost chokes the viewer to see breathtakingly gorgeous ladies like Madhubala and Yasmin paired off with fellows like Guru Dutt and Johny Walker. JW is inimitable as a comic sidekick, but in this particular film, Guruji should have gone with a 5 star casting: Madhubala, Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Yasmin. Dilip Kumar and Shammi Kapoor were a long overdue screen pairing which proved spectacular in VIDHAATA (1982).

The incomparable Lalita Pawar has to be mentioned. A truly stunning beauty in her youth, this veteran actress of Hindi cinema had a screen presence which elevated any film in which she appeared. And of course there is the inimitable comedienne Tun Tun. Last but not least, there is the special guest appearance by the dashing Hindi film hero Al Nasir parodying a tennis superstar.

Having already been cited in other reviews of this film, the title of this movie could have been different. Overall, this is a timeless classic from the cinematic genius of Guru Dutt.