O Quarto Mandamento

This is a lost treasure, I saw it a few nights ago on TCM, and was surprise about the acting and the quality of the movie, script and direction, and for a change it is not set in New York or Los Angeles, but in Cleveland, Ohio. Gene Tierney was fantastic in this movie. I wondered aloud why Paramount Pictures have not release this movie on DVD. Gene Tierney is by far one of the most beautiful women ever in movie history. This is a newer version of screwball comedies, but with a twist, I won't spoil it for you. Here goes what I can tell you, two mother-in-laws, a newly wed couple, a rich spoil kid and a beautiful woman, got it? That is all I will say, this movie is a charm. Even if you don't like screwball comedies, Gene Tierney is worth the time, she is just great to look at, a very beautiful woman.

Though Gene Tierney and John Lund are the leads in this film, Thelma Ritter steals it completely as Lund's down to earth plebian mother from New Jersey. Thelma got one of her Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress, the second of six she was to earn in her career.

Mitchell Leisen directs this charming comedy about a pair of sudden newlyweds, she a débutante and him a working stiff reporter. They meet when Lund saves Tierney's life as she goes off the road and drives precariously on to a cliff's edge. Both abandon their respective prospective mates, Lund says goodbye to Jan Sterling and she to James Lorimer who also happens to be the son of Lund's boss Larry Keating.

Tierney's one nervous new bride wanting to make sure her first dinner party goes right and when Ritter comes knocking at her door, Tierney mistakes her for the new maid she wanted. God knows Thelma Ritter played enough maids in her career, it was an honest mistake. Then of course Lund can't quite break it to her, even after grand dame Miriam Hopkins as Tierney's mother arrives on the scene.

It all sounds real silly, but it actually does work, Leisen's direction and the talent of his cast actually carry this off.

Thelma Ritter went six times to the Oscars as a nominee for Best Supporting Actress and she could have won in any of those years. This year of 1951 her nomination and everything else that year had to face up against A Streetcar Named Desire and she lost to Kim Hunter as Stella Kowalski.

Maybe she should have been up for Best Actress though I doubt Thelma Ritter would have won against Vivien Leigh. Still she's the main reason to see The Mating Season.

"The Mating season" is definitely, though unexpectedly, a beautiful movie. The plot relies on a simple but original idea: the mother-in-law is a positive character, in some sense the actual heroine of the movie. The misfit between the low-class Ellen McNulty (Thelma Ritter) and the upper-class folks surrounding her, with her son (John Lund) as a link, is a source of continuous fun. Thelma Ritter gives a first-class performance.

Also the rest of the cast works beautifully, especially Larry Keating. The whole movie is a pattern of good taste. What about Gene Tierney? We see her in short-pants... later she sings a French song. This would be enough to recommend the film, isn't it? Now, forget Gene Tierney's beauty for a moment (that's hard, I know): she acted in comedies, dramas, misteries, thrillers, film-noirs, westerns, adventure and historical movies, and so on. She always enters into her role with perfect ease and versatility. She is a great actress, this is the true point. Gene adds further class to "The Mating Season", a little jewel not to be missed.

"The Mating Season" is a 1951 film that stars Gene Tierney, Thelma Ritter, John Lund, Jan Sterling, Miriam Hopkins and Larry Keating. Tierney and Lund play newlyweds Maggie and Val McNulty - she's a blue blood but broke, and he's up and coming in the corporate world. Val's mom Ellen (Ritter) owns a hamburger place but loses it and comes to see her son, only to find out he's getting married. Ellen makes her excuses and works until she has enough money for a new outfit. Then she calls on her new daughter-in-law - only to be mistaken as a maid hired to help with a party the couple is throwing. Ellen is a big hit, and, swearing her son to secrecy, stays on in the house. Then Maggie's arrogant, spoiled mother (Miriam Hopkins) comes to town to stay with Maggie and Val. Four becomes a crowd.

This is a very sweet, funny film with wonderful ensemble acting and great characters. Tierney has her familiar hairdo (which around this time she didn't always have) and looks gorgeous. She's totally charming as Maggie. Lund does a good job as her harried husband, who wants to make good and has just a touch - a slight touch - of being a jerk. It's a weakness that we forgive him for later on. Of course, Ritter steals the show as Ellen, doing a role very familiar to her - a mouthy servant. Hopkins is bigger than life as Maggie's totally obnoxious mother, and Larry Keating is a delight as Val's boss' father, who has better values than his son will ever have. Jan Sterling has a small part as Val's former girlfriend. As usual, she looks cheap and acts cheaper.

Lots of fun - don't miss it.

Where do I start, this seems to be just a well done ensemble farce with elements of screwball comedy. Mistaken identity, overbearing mother in law. But when you take a second look, this is a movie with cynical undercurrents about the American dream. I don't want to give away the plot so I will just comment on the excellent cast and direction by Mitchell Leisen. Leisen treats the material with such respect and care, what could have been average is fresh and new. Gene Tierney has a great comic touch, Miriam Hopkins gives a great over the top performance, then what can I say Thelma Ritter, just amazing. I was really impressed with her warm hearted scenes with Gene Tierney. There is not a weak link in the supporting cast. This is great ensemble acting. The movie comes to a very satisfying conclusion. This is one of the most underrated comedies of the era. I do believe this movies is gaining the respect it deserves. Most critics today consider this a CLASSIC. I hope Paramount will release this on DVD.