Ainda uma Vez com Emoção

Delightful, enchanting, deliciously funny. Kay Kendall was all of these things in her far too short life. Her last film, Once More With Feeling is very rarely seen, more's the pity. As a companion piece to The Reluctant Debutante this is a wonderful tribute to a dazzlingly beautiful and talented young woman. The fireworks between Kendall and Yul Brynner as her "apparent" husband (who really isn't) are a joy to watch and give one a view of a masterfully comic actress whose talents would have taken her way up into the stratosphere of cinema greats. Great pacing and set pieces from director Stanley Donen. Yes, this movie is a piece of fluff but the sheer professionalism of both leads make it a must see. If you can get your hands on a copy then you're in for a real treat. A beautiful looking production with top performances all round. Would that the movies of today could be this enjoyable!

This film is just plain funny. Yul Brenner is perfect as the fiery uncompromising symphony conductor, Kaye Kendall likewise as his companion of many years who has kept his orchestra afloat by her unfailing ability to soothe the many feathers ruffled by the maestro -- until, that is, she returns one night to find him compromised with a beautiful 21-year-old pianist. The first-rate performances here are not limited to their acting alone; this is a fine piece of work and everyone involved can be justifiably proud of their part in making it so. The mystery, to me, is why this upbeat and thoroughly delightful comedy is virtually unknown and why the only way in which viewers can verify this is to catch it on its infrequent showings on late-night television. This should really be available on VHS or DVD; my question is, why isn't it?

It is a shame that this film has not been released on video. It is a witty observation of the classical music world with Yul Brynner playing the part of a temperamental orchestra conductor. It was also Kay Kendall's last film - she was fatally ill when she made it and died shortly after it was finished. She was a marvelous comedienne and was a great foil for Yul Brynner. Every classical music buff should see this film!

This is a latter-day example of the "screwball" comedies of the 1930s, and has standout performances from Yul Brynner, Kay Kendall, and Gregory Ratoff. Beautifully filmed, gorgeous sets, great comic emsemble, and is LONG LONG overdue for re-release on video. Please!! I want to own a copy of this film for my library. This is one movie I could watch again every week.

While Yul Brynner and Kay Kendall throw themselves admirably into their parts, their characters are annoying. Brynner's character, Victor Fabian, is a one-note, over-the-top egocentric and quickly becomes tiring.

Kay Kendall's character, Dolly Fabian, is the peacemaker counterweight to Victor Fabian's "bull in the china shop", and is the person who soothes the wealthy benefactors to Victor's orchestra.

The wealthy benefactors are the stereotypical dull and eccentric people with money who need to give it to poor, creative, artistic people.

As Victor Fabian grew quickly tiresome it fell to Dolly Fabian's character to pull me into the movie. She failed as she was a doormat.

Victor and his stereotypically lying and money hungry agent, Maxwell Archer (with an annoying and hard to understand Russian/Eastern European accent), lie and scheme to get Dolly back after she rightfully-so left Victor when he dallied with a young music student.

After leaving Victor, Dolly started a career as a teacher and is now engaged. Good for her as I could not see what she saw in Victor in the first place.

A wealthy elderly backer will not support Victor with the London orchestra unless Dolly is back with him. So Victor and his agent pursue and trick Dolly into returning. Not the most romantic of reasons. Still it could be comedic but it is not.

Dolly comes across as weak willed and a doormat. Her protests of not wanting to be with Victor again are ignored and steam rolled. Apparently the lady's "No!", does not mean no.

The movie's pretend divorce request to cover up for a pretend marriage is too dumb to be believed.