Perfect Understanding

That's the song Gloria sings over the closing credits; the reverse could be emblematic of the film, a trying-to-be-chic trifle that is nonetheless amusing in its stilted sophistication and odd cinematography. Gloria and Olivier swan about modern London--she's an American interior decorator, he appears to be independently wealthy--and do some rather pre-Code making out before deciding to marry. Misunderstandings quickly pile up as each, though nominally terribly terribly in love with each other, contemplate extramarital affairs. There's also intrigue about his suspicion that she's carrying someone else's child--it's far too racy to have been made in the U.S. at the time, and was filmed in Britain by Gloria's production company. The dialogue strains to be Somerset Maugham witty and the supporting cast is nothing special, though Miles Malleson has a nice bit. Gloria is certainly glamorous and good at eye-batting, and Olivier, playing a spoiled bachelor it's hard to root for, has some charm. Also fun is the hilariously overemphatic musical scoring--every comma seems to be accentuated with a crescendo. Not much of a movie, but an interesting look at two stars at uncomfortable times in their film careers.

"Perfect Understanding" is a simply dreadful film--very, very dated, dull and filled with folks you really cannot relate to or like. It also features the rather odd romantic pairing of Gloria Swanson and Laurence Oliver--a pairing that doesn't quite work.

The film begins with Swanson singing--something you just don't need to hear unless you are a masochist. Fortunately, Olivier's character didn't love her singing either, though otherwise they play rich folks who have nothing better to do than go to parties, travel the world and talk...a lot. And one of the things they love to talk about is their love for each other. However, Swanson's character is apprehensive to marry, as she's afraid that over time their love will fade. So, they agree to marry and stay married until they begin to argue (ooo, how romantic).

The biggest problem about this film is that it was the Depression and folks were out of work. So, such a mannered and dull film involving the rich and lazy seems strange--and hard to enjoy. The characters seemed rather one-dimensional and annoying. In particular, Swanson's acting didn't help, though Olivier did a nice job in spite of the film's many shortcomings. Dull and probably not worth your time.

I first saw Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Blvd" (1950) and loved her in the movie. She played an actress who was past her prime yet behaved as though she was in her heyday. Throughout the movie it was as though she was always on stage, which is how I imagine actors and actresses behave when they try to hold on to their glory days. Her movements, expressions, and speech were exaggerated like there was a camera focused on her at all times.

After watching "Perfect Understanding" I realize that's just the way Gloria Swanson acts. As good as she was in "Sunset Blvd" she was equally terrible in "Perfect Understanding." The speech, the expressions, and the behavior were exaggerated and made even more comical by the music. And she and Joan Crawford have mastered the frozen, wide-eyed, crazy look which looks so unnatural.

In "Perfect Understanding" Swanson plays Judy Rogers, a high society woman from America who was in love with Nicholas Randall (Laurence Olivier), a high society man from England. The two were crazy in love, but Judy wasn't keen on the idea of marriage, no matter how many times Nicholas proposed. Eventually, Judy gave in and agreed to marry Nicholas with a contract stating that they'd always have a "perfect understanding" and that they'd "never be husband and wife but lover and mistress. And above everything else, to remain individual."

To Judy, jealousy was an ugly trait only to be found in commoners or the insecure. She'd have the opportunity to put her beliefs to the test because orbiting around her and Nicholas was Stephanie (Nora Swindburne), a married woman who was unabashedly in love with Nicholas. She would ruin her own marriage as well as Nicholas's if given the chance.

"Perfect Understanding" followed a predictable pattern. Unfortunately, it was another high-society movie involving grand exclamations of love and affection as well as rampant infidelity. It's a tired theme that's simply redone with new actors and a slightly adjusted script. The moment I saw Stephanie ogling Nicholas I knew what we were in for. There was nothing novel about this movie nor was there anything worth watching unless you're a fan of Gloria Swanson or Laurence Olivier.

Free on YouTube.

...from United Artists and director Cyril Gardner. Posh British society couple Judy (Gloria Swanson) and Nicholas (Laurence Olivier) decide to get married, but with a "perfect understanding" that they won't tie each other down, and allow the other to maintain their freedom. When Nicholas has a fling with an old flame, Judy spends the night with another man, and their open marriage is sorely tested.

By 1933, these "sophisticated open marriage" melodramas were already old-hat, and nothing new is added here. Swanson and Olivier have very little chemistry, and Olivier has yet to develop much screen charisma (plus he looks downright sickly in his swimsuit scene). The obtrusive, bombastic score is also a detriment. This was an expensive failure for Swanson, who also produced. Co-star Michael Farmer was Swanson's husband at the time. Director Gardner was hired as editor but took over directing duties when original pick Rowland V. Lee was fired.

Perfect Understanding (1933)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

With her star quality fading, Gloria Swanson went to England to produce this melodrama, which when released would just harm her career even more as it failed with both fans and critics. Judy (Swanson) and Nicholas (Laurence Olivier) agree to get married with the "perfect understanding" that they never argue or disagree. All goes as planned until Nicholas takes a trip to Cannes where he falls for another woman. PERFECT UNDERSTANDING is the perfect example of legends doing an awful film. There's really no doubt about it but this thing is just deadly dull from the word go and it never picks up any steam. It's easy to see why the movie was such a disaster when it was originally released but the most confusing thing is why Swanson decided to produce this herself and in England. I mean, this type of melodrama was flowing from every small and major studio in America so going to England really didn't do anything to improve the film. Even worse is that we have so many boring dialogue scenes that just drag everything out that the viewer will be wanting to stick sharp knives in their eyes. Things don't get any better once Olivier does the cheating as we get some pretty boring situations leading to a finale, which is just downright awful. It seems the film wants to return to Swanson's glory silent days because the picture really does look and feel like a silent at times but it's done in such a way that the entire thing just seems old-fashioned and it just doesn't work with the dialogue. Swanson is good in her role but sadly she's not given too much to do. Olivier is excellent in his part but one wishes the great performance was going towards a better cause. PERFECT UNDERSTANDING had pretty much been forgotten for over seven decades until it was brought back up to the surface but sadly, only die-hard fans of the stars should even bother with it.