En manos de una mujer

Seeing Vincent Price fall in love on a cruise ship on his way to New York makes you think that this film will be set on a luxury cruise ship. As it happens, the woman he falls in love with is the managing director of a dating agency who arranges marriages. There should have been more scenes on the ship because they fell in love too quickly. It needed more character development to make their alliance more credible. As it turns out, it's not a bad film, neither is it a good film because of what's missing. It's an okay film which could have been better, but that's not down to the actors, it was down to the script. For Vincent Price fans it's watching to see what he did after 'Tower of London'.

Since Thriller seems to be played every five minutes on the radio following the death of Michael Jackson, I've found myself lecturing the kids about the wonderful, 55-year career of the legendary Vincent Price.

Well here's where that wonderful career began - the male lead in his debut feature! His role here couldn't be any further removed from the genre he's famous for. This romantic screwball comedy sees Price play the heart-throb hero(?!) opposite comedy actress Constance Bennett (who, incidentally, my mother was named after).

Helen Murphy (Bennett) runs the titular service which caters for the every need of its customers, from meals to shopping, finances to social arrangements. Constance is sick of running around after men (her main customers) and seeks an independent, self-sufficient partner.

She meets one in the form of Robert Wade (Price) who, after a case of mistaken identity (have you ever seen a 30s comedy in which this didn't happen?), treats her like a real woman. Unfortunately, Murphy's business-like lifestyle clashes with Wade's vision of the ideal woman - a homely child-bearer who lets the man pay for everything.

So Murphy lies and hides the truth of her real occupation - with hilarious consequences. Naturally Wade hates Murphy's service (remember, he doesn't know she's behind it!) which he finds unnecessary intrusive. This of course causes Murphy to perpetuate the deceit.

There's plenty of madcap behaviour as Wade's now antiquated views of women force Murphy to use underhanded tactics to win his heart. Bennett is great as always and Price is also very good, although no Cary Grant. There's also a supporting cast of zany characters including Mischa Auer (mad Russian chef who constantly consults his spirit guide), Charles Ruggles (eccentric old businessman) and Helen Broderick (dumb romantic dreamer).

The comedy is often predictable as Wade sets about selling his new innovative tractor idea and gets himself accidentally engaged to the wrong person. However, it's all very likable and sweet and makes for a perfect afternoon matinée.

Considering Price makes his feature film debut here, it is amazing to see how comfortable he is and how consistent his look and persona are with later roles. The ever-present 'tache is obviously on show, as is that slight southern twang and dignified manner. To be fair, the 27-year old Price looks exactly here as he does in 'The House on Haunted Hill' – 20 years later! And there's an interesting scene in which Price jokingly talks about madness in his family, as he slowly and menacingly advances towards his finance – an eerie forecast of things to come

1938's "Service De Luxe" found Constance Bennett working at Universal in a formula quickie designed to capitalize on her recent hit "Topper," surprisingly upstaged by a screen newcomer direct from Broadway's "Victoria Regina," a 27 year old Vincent Price! Even he seemed to realize that his aristocratic bearing and distinguished tones weren't suited to romantic leads, so it was no surprise that villains like Shelby Carpenter in "Laura" would become his early stock in trade; better still, that a small company in American International Pictures would put him under contract at the age of 50 to do a series of films based on Edgar Allan Poe in which he could stretch his wings with tragic figures haunted by personal demons, sometimes heroic, sometimes evil, yet always engaging and even romantic. That is part of what makes this debut such a curiosity, to enjoy the chemistry he shares with his fetching leading lady, though he appears miscast in the role of a country boy who yearns to make something of himself in the big city. Robert Wade (Price) journeys to New York City to obtain backing for a new tractor he hopes to market, and meets Constance during the voyage, her character Helen Murphy the owner/manager of the Dorothy Madison Company, famous for seeing to the needs of their wealthy (mostly male) clientele. She is very good at her job, aided by loyal assistant Pearl (Helen Broderick, wisecracking mother of actor Broderick Crawford), but longs to meet a gentleman who can actually fend for himself, while Wade believes her to be the helpless type who needs a man to take care of her. He confesses that a lifetime of being surrounded by adoring but pushy aunts has made him wary of bossy females, so she naturally can't bear to spill the beans about her career, playing along in lovesick fashion until using her influence to gain him a contract for his new tractor. An accidental engagement is enough for her to come clean, but in being rejected by the man she loves is then called upon to set up his own wedding! Light and frothy but with this unique pairing an interesting match, sluggish to start until Price enters near the 20 minute mark, with one fascinating moment of foreshadowing where he tries to gently dissuade his unlikely fiancee by pretending that madness runs in his family, perhaps a blueprint for Roderick Usher.

Most romantic movies have a very basic formula...boy meets girl...couple start to fall in love...there is a misunderstanding that threatens to break them up...this is resolved and they live happily ever after. In essence, this is what you get in "Service de Luxe"...a typical formula though HOW you do through each of these steps is what makes this film a bit unique.

Helen Murphy (Constance Bennett) and her friend, Pearl (Helen Broderick) own a business called 'Dorothy Madison Service'. It's a company that solves problems and hires folks, as needed, for helpless rich folks who can't seem to do these things for themselves. The clients love her. However, when Robert (Vincent Price) is contracted with Dorothy Madison, he HATES this. He's a very self-reliant guy and wants to take care of details himself! What he doesn't realize is that his new girlfriend is Helen...of Dorothy Madison fame! She doesn't tell him, either, as she likes him...perhaps loves him and his independent ways. After all, she spends her life taking care of people and the idea of a man she does NOT need to take care of is very exciting.

In the meantime, Audrey Robinson, the daughter of a rich man who uses Dorothy Madison Service, has fallen for Robert...though he has no interest in her at all. One day, he's working and is completely distracted with his project...as Audrey blathers and essentially proposes to him. Without his realizing it, suddenly he's engaged to Audrey even though he loves Helen.

So, how will Robert get rid of Audrey? And, how will Helen get him to marry her even after he finds out who she is?

Overall, this is a very nice romance...enjoyable, clever and with likable character. The only thing working against it is that over time Vincent Price became typecast and seeing him in his first Hollywood film playing an inventor that has made an improved tractor seems odd given Price's screen persona. He just doesn't seem like the farm and tractor sort!

From 1938, "Service de Luxe" gave Vincent Price his first leading role. He was young and quite handsome. The film also stars Constance Bennett, Helen Broderick, Mischa Auer, Charlie Ruggles, and Joy Hodges.

Bennett is Helen Murphy who runs the Dorothy Madison service, which does everything for its clients: plan their weddings, get emergency passports, find them apartments, you name it. Helen is tired of the whole thing.

She then meets Robert Wade (Price). Wade has been henpecked all his life by his aunts. If there's one thing he doesn't like, it's a meddling woman. He is in New York to sell plans for a new tractor. He and Helen fall in love, but because of his feelings about take-charge women, she can't tell him what she does for a living.

In her capacity as the head of her company, she calls a client, Mr. Robinson (Ruggles) and asks him to meet with Robert about his tractor. He hasn't had any success in selling it. Robinson loves the invention and gives Robert a place to work and has the Madison service find him an apartment nearby.

Robinson's difficult daughter Joy falls for Robert. Meanwhile, Helen is stuck - she hasn't told Robert her profession, and he really resents the Madison agency doing things for him.

This is a cute movie and a great chance to see Price as a young romantic lead. He's delightful as a hard-working, serious man seeking success. Bennett is her usual gorgeous self, tired of the rat race and believing she's found true love.

All the performances are good, particuarly from Mischa Auer and Helen Broderick. Auer is hilarious as a Russian chef who is teaching Robinson to cook, and Broderick provides the sarcastic comments.

The only one I wasn't crazy about is Joy Hodges. Part of it is because the character she plays is so annoying. She wasn't a particularly subtle actress. She was, however, a fascinating woman, who helped Ronald Reagan get his start in show business. She was an accomplished singer and Broadway stage actress.

Enjoyable film. Price had an amazing career. It's great to see him at its start.