The Notorious Landlady

Kim Novak is "The Notorious Landlady" in this 1962 Columbia film starring Jack Lemmon, Fred Astaire, Estelle Winwood, and Lionel Jeffries.

William Gridley (Lemmon) is a junior diplomat assigned to London who comes to look at rooms for rent by one Mrs. Hardwicke (Novak). As soon as Gridley lays eyes on her, he wants the room. At first she says she's the maid and can't rent to him, but she drops the pretense and allows herself to be talked into giving him the rooms, though she preferred a couple.

When his boss, Franklyn Ambruster (Astaire) hears the name of Gridley's landlady, it sounds familiar. It takes him a couple of minutes to find out that she is suspected of murdering her husband and remains the talk of London. The police, headed up by Inspector Oliphant, want Gridley to see what he can find out. Gridley, of course, is sure that his landlady is incapable of murder.

The plot thickens and so does the comedy, leading to an atypical trial and finally to a chase scene out of the Keystone Kops. Along the way there's blackmail, fire, a witness, poison, and a few other things.

As good as I thought this film was, and as much as I like Kim Novak (who designed her own clothes and they're gorgeous - she could have had a second career) I thought she could have added to the comedy a little more, although she's just fine as the beautiful, mysterious Mrs. Hardwicke. Jack Lemmon is delightful as the confused Gridley, and Lionel Jeffries is a standout as the exasperated Inspector. Fred Astaire makes an elegant Ambruster. Estelle Winwood, as an elderly neighborhood, is on hand for some fun comedy.

Very entertaining film, recommended, especially given the stars. Written by Larry Gelbart and Blake Edwards.

Kim Novak was a Columbia star and went from a supporting role in Jack Lemmon's great Phfft to co star in Bell Book and Candle to lead and top billed over Jack Lemmon in this wickedly funny comedy mystery directed by Richard Quine.

This was the last movie Kim Novak made at Columbia and ended a legendary relationship between studio and star where Kim made Picnic, Pal Joey, Bell Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet among others and her declared favorite film Middle Of The Night. Looking at times like the fabled Jean Harlow Ms. Novak reaches the top of the stardom ladder in this film.

To me Kim Novak was what a movie star looked like!

Pleasant mystery/comedy with a young energetic Jack Lemmon and an attractive Kim Novak developing a love interest (as expected) while trying to solve the problem of the apparent murder of her husband. Some intriguing plot twists and surprising jumps. Light film provides a nice diversion for an hour and a half especially with the presence of Fred Astaire and Lionel Jefferies.

Unfortunately it does not appear to be available on video tape at the present time.

This movie is not bad at all,not one of Lemmon's best by any stretch of the imagination but it has some funny situations and its likable for the most part.Near the ending it gets completely out of hand and instead of comedy-mystery which is the most part,it becomes mad slapstick for no apparent reason.Is like someone told the scriptwriter that a Lemmon movie should be crazier than what they had up to that point.Anyway,its kinda weird this way from that point on but you get to smile and the stars are all likable.Novak is at her sexiest, even in B&W!!Funny role for Astaire who was at his second career by that time,plays a manipulating official at the American Embassy in London with an eye for Novak.

Jack Lemmon, an American, has newly arrived in England for business, and he rents a room in Kim Novak's house. When she's first introduced, she has a Cockney accent and tells him she's the maid of the house. Turns out, she's also American, and she owns the house-what else is she hiding? Jack's boss, Fred Astaire, and Lionel Jeffries at Scotland Yard believe Kim's hiding an awful lot, and they enlist Jack to help in their investigation. But when you're dating your landlady, do you really want to help put her in jail?

In their third onscreen pairing, Kim Novak and Jack Lemmon are dynamite in The Notorious Landlady! Jack is hilarious and charming in this classic 60s comedy, and while she isn't given much to do, Kim is as beautiful and alluring as her character requires. Fred, in a non-musical role, is very funny as well. If you're a fan of any of these three, this movie's a must-see! I'd praise the timing and chemistry as the elements that shine the brightest in this film, but the story is really interesting, too. This is a great flick to watch with your friends or your sweetie pie, or by yourself when you've had a stressful week and want some easy laughs. It's very funny, from the first scene to the last. Naturally, my favorite scenes are with Fred. Everything out of his mouth is hilarious!