Dama Sem Coração

A Woman of Distinction (1950) is a quirky romcom that is heavier on the comedy due to Rosalind Russell's willingness to throw herself out there for her audience. The "meet cute" between Russell and the still dashing and debonair Ray Milland is thwarted by their instant dislike and impatience with one another. She has an important job as the dean of a college. He is a lecturer on tour who happens to get mixed up with Russell and ultimately causes her job to be in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Edmund Gwenn, in a delightful role as Russell's father, plays matchmaker, thus making it harder to easily iron out the plot twists that intertwine the two main characters causing problems at every turn.

Russell rivals Luculle Ball in what she'll do for a laugh. It works and this is a cute movie that is pure escapist pleasure. It's not one of my very favorites, but I enjoy it enough to watch it whenever it comes on TCM.

There is quite a bit of chemistry here between Ray Milland's "Prof. Stevenson" - a British astronomy geek somewhat reluctantly doing the lecture tour rounds in the US of A; and the stiff-as-starch college dean "Susan" (Rosalind Russell). The former has something he wishes to return to the latter - and gagging for some sort of publicity for this flagging tour, his agent "Teddy" (Janis Carter) tries to suggest there is more to their causal acquaintanceship than just that! Try as they might - the more they deny, the more they become embroiled in a slightly amusing series of escapades that risk both their reputations, and certainly her job! There is no doubt as to what will happen, it's a simple and straightforward comedy romance that raises a smile now and again, but also makes you cringe a little - the scenarios are a bit blatant and obvious at times. Still, Russell is on decent form and director Edward Buzzell pretty much hits the ground running with this enjoyable, if somewhat standard, formula feature. You won't remember it afterwards, but anything with a bit of Edmund Gwenn in it has got to be worth 90 minutes.

The two main actors, Ray Milland and Rosalind Russell are such fine professionals and give beautiful, consistent performances.

Russell goes full out with the slapstick -- she's courageous and commits on stage. A model for all actors afraid to go there. Such simiiarities to Lucille Ball.

The music had great accompaniment by the acting, punched certain points and the actors followed suit as well. Ray Milland's facial expressions are study in authentic reaction.

Funny moments; quick pace; and very good performances. The challenge was with the writing. It's just No - no- no - no - until a flip in the last 30 seconds. So the writing seems one note. There is no found love lost love found love. It's just no love, then a flip. That can be tiring for the audience.

It's predictable, but solid. Two fine actors make it very soiid.

Though one of my favorite Rosalind Russell comedies, A Woman of Distinction isn't one of the better known ones. Give me this adorable flick over His Girl Friday anytime! She plays her specialty: a dedicated career woman who has never had time for romance. As a college dean with an adopted daughter, she feels she has a complete family unit. Her doting father, Edmund Gwenn, doesn't share her view. With a perpetual twinkle in his eye, he constantly teases her about a woman's completion being found with a man.

Ray Milland (who is definitely not Ray Mi-bland in this movie) plays just someone just as dedicated and just as happily single. He's a professor visiting America on a lecture tour, and when a nosy newspaper woman, Janis Carter, writes an incriminating story connecting Ray with Roz, everyone thinks they're having an affair. Neither is happy about it, but how can they discourage the newspaper story when they're constantly seen together?

There are so many hilarious scenes in this movie, so if you are a Roz fan and haven't seen it yet, pop some corn and get ready for a very enjoyable matinee day. There are some screwball moments, like Ray making a fool of himself during a ladies bicycle ride, but they're balanced out with more serious plot points, like doubting the parentage of Roz's daughter. For a great mix of light and naughty fun, check out A Woman of Distinction.

Major slapstick is the highlight of "A Woman of Distinction," a 1950 film starring Rosalind Russell, Ray Milland, Edmund Gwenn and Janis Carter. Russell has one of her uptight, cold women roles so often depicted in the '40s. You know the one, no room or time for romance until a man melts her down. The melter here is Ray Milland.

Russell is the dean of a girls' school in New England; Milland plays a visiting British astronomer. Will she succumb to his charms? Sure, after she beats him with her handbag, and she's sprayed with water, smeared with mud, and falls out of chairs. Wouldn't you? The laughs are all supposed to come from the slapstick; in truth, there's not too much of a script, and what's there is predictable and derivative. The cast is likable, and Russell proves she can do just about anything. In the end, it's not much of a movie.