Love Is a Ball

Loved it. One of my all time favorites. Glenn ford is great, Mr Boyer is a real hoot, and the young Ricardo Montalban is a delight. Does anyone know who owns the rights? I would love to see it again. Been waiting for years. Please e-mail me. Thank you for reading this.

Completely bland and predictable romantic comedy is propped up by a solid cast. Set on the French Riviera, Charles Boyer plays a matchmaker for penniless aristocrats. Boyer is this time helping goofy Ricardo Montalban woo Hope Lange, and brings on John Wood (Professor Falken from "WarGames") to give him English refinements and also Glenn Ford to help him with race car driving because of Lange's dream to participate in the Grand Prix. In typical romcom fashion, Lange and Ford accidentally meet and at first annoy each other and then fall in love. The story is fluff to the point of annoyance and at times feels as if it's trying too hard to be 1960s cool, but the cast are likable, which also includes Telly Savalas as Lange's father, and that's enough to carry the film. It also helps that there's a peppy score from Michel Legrand ("The Thomas Crown Affair" "Summer of '42" "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg") and has breezy direction from David Swift, who memorably wrote and directed "The Parent Trap" and "Pollyanna." Overall, you'll likely completely forget about this film after the credit roll, but it's fairly entertaining while you watch.

Tremendously entertaining and fun romantic comedy, set on the Riviera, filmed in warm sunshine with a top cast of real professionals. Saw it at the Royal in San Francisco, 3-31-63; co-feature was the Stewart Granger swashbuckler SWORDSMAN OF SIENA. Walked to the theatre from my apartment on a pleasant evening, for a comfortable evening at the movies, in a well appointed neighborhood house, for which I had a Pass. In the old days, one could expect a good time at the movies most times out, and always get value for money. In my case, it was a cinch

Director David Swift also co-wrote this harmless adaptation of Lindsay Hardy's book "The Grand Duke and Mr. Pimm" about an American heiress on the French Riviera unknowingly set up by a marriage broker to fall in love with a handsome, klutzy Duke. Unfortunately for all, he's secretly in love with the broker's secretary while she has eyes for a temporarily-grounded boat captain, now working for the matchmaker in confidence. Despite lush locations, the picture doesn't look as marvelous as it should--nor do the comically-mad circumstances sparkle like those nutty romantic plots of the 1930s. Still, the cast makes the most of it, with leads Glenn Ford and Hope Lange (then a dating twosome in real-life) enjoying terrific chemistry. First-rate supporting work from Ricardo Montalban, Charles Boyer, Telly Savalas and character actor John Wood, who disappears after the first-third. ** from ****

What surprise(s)? Plenty. How about Telly Savalas playing an effeminate guardian? How about Ricardo Montalban playing a klutz! This movie has all that and then some. Hope Lange is perfect as the rebellious young girl who doesn't want to be stereotyped (this was pretty racy for the 50s mind you), and Glenn Ford totally disarmed by his circumstance and his company.

Great chemistry between the players especially between Charles Boyer and Montalban, who just doesn't seem like he's ever going to play up to his title...this is really funny.

A movie I can watch again and again.