The Guardsman

A little creaky, but worth it to see the real-life husband/wife duo of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne who were legends on the stage, and who live up to at least some of that here. Lunt does well early on when he emotes little facial expressions and mannerisms in a very natural and modern way, and Fontanne towards the end is brilliant, especially talking about his kiss as she caresses his face, and in delivering a veiled ribald reference about something else of his. The story involves a pair of actors who are also husband and wife, but it's pretty basic. He's worried that because she's had a number of men as lovers before she married him, she'll move on to another after all of the bickering they've been doing. To test her, he dresses up as a Russian officer and sees how she reacts to his advances. Where Lunt falls down a bit is in his characterization of the Russian, which is clunky and odd; it doesn't work, and also makes the chemistry that develops with her seem false. I loved the delightful bit of ambiguity in that very last shot and this wouldn't be a bad film to see, but guard your expectations. (sorry, no pun intended)

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne are married to each other and have a successful stage career. However, whilst the public sees them perform successfully on stage, they are constantly goading each other in their private life, so much so that the trust placed in their marriage vows is being tested and threatened. No more so than when a mysterious Russian turns up and starts sending flowers to Fontanne. Who could he possibly be?

This film is funny. It has a different storyline and you are never quite sure whether or not Lynn Fontanne knows what she is doing. Even her knowing glance to camera at the film's end leaves you in two minds.

Would you recognize your partner if they donned a disguise? Every time I've ever put a fake moustache on, I've always been rumbled.

The Guardsman is now one of my 10 favorite films. Thanks to Turner Classic Movies audiences can continue to see the brilliant performances of Lunt and Fontanne in this hilarious play made into a film. The performances of the support cast are excellent, especially that of Roland Young.

The Guardsman does what a good comedy should do. It should make us laugh, give us insights into the human condition, and keep us wondering what will happen next to characters that we care about.

I laughed out loud and watched the unpredictable plot move through scenes of witty, fast paced dialog that led to an ending that lived up to everything that preceded it. If you carefully watch Fontanne in the ending, you will be certain of the meaning of her character's smile.

... because seeing it today it seemed as creaky as a rusty swing set. Yet the leads were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress for that year. Some Oscar decisions do not age well.

The plot is about a stage actress (Lynne Fontaine) and a stage actor (Alfred Lunt) who are constantly bickering after just a short time of marriage. The actor believes his wife is now looking to replace him, and he thinks that she would prefer a soldier type, because she seems to scan the audience for such men. Several days latter a Guardsman - he instead looks like the doorman at one of your better New York hotels pre pandemic - begins sending flowers and then asks if he can come and see the actress. She says yes. Perhaps the husband is right and he is about to be replaced. Watch and find out what happens.

The leads here were famous stage actors of the 20th century, and furthermore they actually were married and made very few film appearances. Their next one after this wasn't for another twelve years in 1943. But if they bickered in real life it must have all been in good fun because they were married for 55 years until death separated them in 1977. I thought it odd that they were making the actress 29-30 years old, because in 1931 that was approaching middle age, and the plot is also painting her as a great beauty, but I just couldn't help noticing she had a matronly figure. Fontaine's actual age at the time of the production was 44 years old. Husband Lunt was five years younger than that. Actually, during her life, Fontaine kept the year of her birth such a secret that her own husband thought she was ten years younger than she was. Quite a trick.

Actually, these two characters - actor and actress - are both behaving insufferably, and are very vain people, so it's easy to laugh at them but very hard to like either of them. What's fun in it? Zasu Pitts as a servant because Zasu is always lots of fun in that deadpan way of hers. Then there is Maude Eburne as "Mama", a kind of lady in waiting to the actress. This is rather funny because at the beginning of the movie the married acting couple are in a play about Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth had a nurse for 23 years who acted as a substitute mother to her. This might be just a coincidence but I enjoyed it. Finally there is Roland Young as a theatre critic who pals around with the acting couple and gives them great reviews. Great shades of Citizen Kane isn't this a conflict of interest?

By the way, I call the leads "actor" and "actress" because that is how they are billed. I never heard any of the cast call them by their actual names. I would mildly recommend this one.

The names Lunt and Fontanne to this day signify greatness in acting. This famous stage couple has a theater named after them in New York City. To see some of these "great names" perform, though, can prove to be the shattering of illusions. Today's acting styles are so different than they were back then, and one sometimes expects to see hammy gestures, trembling voices, and over the top melodrama.

I am thrilled to report that Lunt and Fontanne live up to their reputation and are as wonderful today as they were back then when they filmed their hit play, "The Guardsman." It's a silly story -- a husband and wife theatrical couple spar at each other, and the husband believes his wife is unfaithful. To test her, he disguises himself as a Russian guardsman and attempts to seduce her.

Lunt and Fontanne were a very attractive couple and absolutely charming. Their performance in a scene from "Elizabeth the Queen" at the very beginning of the film had me hankering for more. I wish they had made other films, but they refused, finding it too boring.

A real treat.