Joies matrimoniales

"Mr. And Mrs. Smith" is a good comedy about a couple who learn that they haven't been legally married the past three years as they thought they were. The "un-marriage" is based on an absurd notion, but it sets the stage for what follows. And what follows is a comedy of errors and airs in which the groom pursues his bride all over again, while she plays hard to get.

Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard are the leads as David and Ann Smith. She reverts to her maiden name, Ann Krausheimer when they split up. This isn't one of Carole Lombard's funnier roles, but Montgomery is funny as he jumps through hoops to try to win his wife back. His law firm partner, Jeff Custer, also wants to woo Ann. Gene Raymond plays his part superbly as a real male wallflower. He's straight faced, overly considerate, and straightforward about a relationship with the one-time wife of his best friend and partner. It makes it that much funnier - and frustrating for David.

Some of the funniest scenes are with Jeff's parents. Lucille Watson plays Mrs. Custer, Jeff's mother. She was one of the consummate Hollywood supporting cast who played superbly the role of a shocked mother, or mother-in-law, or snobbish, Puritanical society dame. Philip Merivale is equally aghast as Jeff's father, Ashley Custer. An uproarious scene occurs when Jeff introduces them to Ann. Just as they think she is a sweet, young thing, David enters the office and talks about their coffee together over the morning breakfast table the past three years. The crunch comes when he asks about his laundry, and says he doesn't have any more clean shorts. A type of this scene replays toward the end of the film - with hilarious portrayals of the dumbfounded and astonished Custers.

It's a good thing that David and Jeff owned their own law firm. No one else would have been able to take so much time away from work as David did to pursue Ann. Some reviewers are surprised that this film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Hitch was well established as a versatile director before he came to the U. S. just before the start of World War II. He became known for his mastery at mystery films. But he had done a number of comedies, romances and dramas before, and even did one successful musical drama.

This film came out at the end of January 1941. A year later Carole Lombard would be dead. She was killed in a plane crash in Nevada while returning home to California from a war bond drive. She was only 34 years old, but she is remembered today from some of the wonderful films she was in, especially her comedy roles. She was in 80 films in a 16-year career.

On the other hand, Robert Montgomery isn't as well known today. He played a variety of roles in more than 60 films, but ended his silver screen career at age 46 in 1950. He spent the rest of his career in television. His last acting was in 1950-51 in his long-running TV series, Robert Montgomery Presents. After that, he continued to produce that show until 1957 and did some more TV production until 1960. He continued to work in the theater in the 1950s and won the 1955 Tony Award as best director for "The Desperate Hours." In 1968, Montgomery wrote a book entitled "An Open Letter from a Television Viewer" in which he lambasted the TV industry for its programming of violence.

A favorite scene of mine in "Mr. And Mrs. Smith" has Jeff and Ann riding in a sleigh to the cottages they have booked at Lake Placid in the Adirondacks. Ann says, "I love the smell of snow." Jeff says, "No one can smell snow." And Ann responds, "I can." Jeff looks around as though he's sniffing, then looks down at the horses pulling the sleigh and says, "That isn't snow."

The Smiths have one exchange in which Lombard is able to speak the only witty lines in the film. Her Ann Smith says, "As long as we live we must never change that rule." David Smith, "That's right." Ann, "You know, if every married couple had it there would never be a divorce. They ought to put it in the marriage ceremony. You are not allowed to leave the bedroom after a quarrel unless you've made up."

Stunning and watchable classic comedy with Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery in sparkling form, adding strong secondary cast. A couple David Smith (Robert Montgomery) and Ann Smith (Carole Lombard) who have been married for three years are shocked to learn that their marriage is not legally valid and go through courtship all over again. They then decide to take new lives and different paths. Ann's new life is dating other men. One of those other men and the most serious is David's best friend and business partner, Jefferson Custer (Gene Raymond). A Million Smiths in America...And these are the funniest! A slightly daffy comedy about a slightly daffy couple !. Learn about love from this scrap-happy couple who were locked up till they made up!. The Flirting Mr. And The Flitting Mrs. Who Ran Their Marriage By Rules!. Whwn thwy loved...they hold hands...to keep from killing each other!. She loves him! She hates him! -and you have all the fun! . Carole's in a comedy again-and What a comedy! The daringly delightful story of a bride who couldn't stay mad!. Love and Laugh with the flirting Mr. And the flitting Mrs. Who ran their marriage by rules--until a rule that wasn't in the book almost ran their marriage on the rocks...Red Book Magazine says it's the most explosive and hilarious comedy of 1941--and you won't argue!. It's Daring! It's Delightful--And as Spicy as It's Speedy!. The All-Time Prize Panic of the Screen

Hitchcock's only screwball and sophisticated comedy, an underrated, endearing farce about a bickering but happy modern couple who discover their marriage isn't legitimate and go through courtship all over again. Vintage of its kind, with inspired interpretations and crackling dialogue in which Lombard and Montgomery get hitched as they're getting unhitched. An amusing, gentle classy comedy about 'War of the Sexes' , including entertaining events, funny incidents , disconcerting situations and lots of fun. The screen team made up of Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery is frankly marvellous, but never more so than in this classic comedy. As husband and wife on opposing sides, they remind us of what film magic is really all about. Riotously directed by Alfred Hitchcock who now lends to laughter that touch of genius which was so evident in his "Rebecca" and "Foreign Correspondent". Less Hitchcock, however, than writer Norman Krasna, who at his best could twist conventional roles and plot patterns in such beguiling ways that you'd almost forget their antiquity. The terrific duo of protagonists: Lombard and Montgomery are well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as: Gene Raymond, Jack Carson, Philip Merivale, Lucile Watson, William Tracy, among others.

Competently directed by Alfred Hitchcock and it is still a good and stylish film. Hitchcok had a long 50-year career. Hitch's early British period when he directed silent films such as the successful ¨The lodger¨ (1926) , ¨The ring¨(1927) , ¨Easy virtue¨ (1927) , ¨The Manxman¨(29) ; being ¨Blackmail¨(29) made as a silent , this was reworked to become a talkie . Following sound movies and early talkies as ¨June and the Paycock¨(30) , ¨Skin Game¨(31) , ¨Rich and strange¨(32) , ¨Number 17¨(32) , ¨The man who knew too much¨(34) , ¨The 39 steps¨ (35) , ¨The secret agent¨(36) , ¨Blackmail¨(36) , ¨The lady vanishes¨(38) . After ¨39 Steps¨ and ¨Jamaica Inn¨, Hitch was encouraged to go to America and quickly filmed his first work in Hollywood hired by the great producer David O'Selznick to shoot ¨Rebecca¨ and after ¨Suspicion¨, ¨Notorious¨ and ¨Spellbound¨. Because Hitch felt controlled by O'Selznick, he founded his own company Trasatlantic along with Sidney Bernstein with which he produced ¨Rope¨ and the flop ¨Under Capricorn¨. Hitchcock went to to fascinate the public with several films such as: ¨Strangers on a Train¨,¨Rear Window¨, Vertigo¨, ¨The Man who Knew Too Much¨, ¨North by Northwest¨, ¨To Catch a Thief¨, ¨The Birds¨, ¨Topaz¨, ¨Torn Curtain¨, ¨Frenzy¨ or ¨Psycho¨that comes near his best. And ¨Mr. And Mrs. Smith¨was the only non-thriller directed by Hitchcock. Rating: 6.5/10. Essential and indispensable watching for Hitch followers.

When I put this movie on I was drowsy, and depressed. It did two things for me after I put it on. It kept me awake, thus entertaining me, and it put a smile on my face.

There are some genuine laughs in this movie, and the comedy is spread between all the characters. Robert Montgomery is extremely funny, with both excellent physical comedy, and great comedic timing with his dialogue. What surprised me most was the excellent comedic timing of Carole Lombard. She is extremely funny, but her chemistry with Montgomery in their scenes together is fantastic.

The direction, of course, is excellent. Not standard Hitchcock suspense, but classic Hitchcock comedy and romance, elements of his film making that a lot of people overlook.

Honestly, this is a fun movie. The humor is intelligent and never sinks to an infantile level. I had never heard of this movie until about two days ago, and I watched it and I was pleasantly surprised. 8 out of 10.

Mr. Surif was wrong when he calls this Hitch's only venture into comedy, for "The Trouble With Harry" falls into that category as well. Not having seen all of Hitch's films, there could be others, for all I know.

Unlike "Harry", in which the peripatetic corpse gives the otherwise bucolic goings-on a zanily ghoulish air, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" is an exercise in pure romantic comedy. Montgomery and Lombard work beautifully against each other, and the script is elegantly and effervescently witty. The opening scene, in which Hitchcock suggests the aftermath of a protracted and clearly energetic sexual romp, is surprisingly risque for its time, and far more erotically suggestive than some of the blatant stuff we see nowadays.

My only quibble is what I feel to be a rather unsatisfactory and hasty conclusion.

According to the Films of Alfred Hitchcock, Carole Lombard prevailed upon Alfred Hitchcock to direct one her comedy films as a favor. Since Hitchcock admired her talent he did so.

It's important to remember that this is a Carole Lombard film and view it that way. Viewed as such it's not a bad marital comedy though if one is expecting certain Hitchcock touches they won't be there.

Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard are a constantly spatting married couple. They love each other, but to them arguing is like exercise. In a moment of oneupsmanship Montgomery answers in the affirmative to a question by Lombard as to whether he'd marry her if he had to do it all over again.

His words come back to haunt him when Charles Halton from Lombard's hometown in Idaho and says that because of a technicality they're not legally married. Montgomery spends the rest of the film trying to win Lombard back.

Some of the best movie comedies have been made on a premise flimsier than this one. Mr.&Mrs. Smith is not the best of comedies, but it is far from the worst.

I have a feeling that Alfred Hitchcock may have had Lombard in mind for future projects more of his own taste. I can see her easily in some of his later films. Lombard was only 32 when she died.

Pity we'll never know.