Un mari [presque] fidèle !

The 1950s were an awful decade for comedy--censorship was strict, and middle-class manners were corseted so tight as to induce hysteria. This movie has a supposedly comic situation, but there is no funny dialogue, no funny scenes. There is just a lot of embarrassment, which is supposed to be ipso facto terribly amusing. The script is careless--Rex Harrison is a man who marries women for money, but his Italian wife clearly doesn't have much (she has, though, a stupendous bust and a foreign accent, and gestures a lot, all of which are, of course, terribly amusing to proper English people). The film begins with Harrison waking up in a hotel, not knowing who he is. Well, how could he have registered without giving a name? The laziness of the whole enterprise is grossly condescending to the viewing public in general and to women in particular.

Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat enjoyed a fruitful partnership starting in 1929. One of their most interesting ventures was 'The Rake's Progress'. That film featured Rex Harrison playing an unmitigated cad. Ten years later we have another Launder/Gilliat production again featuring sexy Rexy as yes, an unmitigated cad! The two films are of course as different and chalk and cheese and the later film has not dated nearly as well as the earlier. Harrison is immaculate and never misses a beat. Not for nothing was he considered by Noel Coward to be the second greatest light comedian, the greatest being Himself naturally.

He is complemented here by a lovely cast notably Cecil Parker, the ill-fated Kay Kendall whose 'chemistry' with future husband Harrison is palpable and the superlative Margaret Leighton. Gilliat's script is excellent although let down by the ludicrous trial scene.

'A testament to the unutterable folly of Womankind'. These words are uttered by the female lawyer who defends Harrison's character on a charge of bigamy. Upon his release from prison he finds this same lawyer plus all of his wives awaiting him with eager anticipation. This spectacle is one that will surely cause assorted feminists to boil over with rage and indignation, assuming of course they have endured it this far.

A period piece to be sure but beautifully performed by all and hopefully can be enjoyed for that alone.

Although boasting a strong cast,this film just fails to attain the anticipated level of entertainment. The movie has an interesting premise,with Rex Harrison as a bigamist,several times over,who has forgotten about his Marital escapades due to his waking up in a Welsh hotel suffering from amnesia. Unfortunately,the film does not quite achieve it's billing as a Comedy,as very few humourous moments are to be seen! However,the acting is solid throughout,with Rex Harrison ideal as the caddish Husband, and there is strong support from Kay Kendall,as his latest Wife...Perhaps? French favourite Nicole Maurey is in spirited form as the Italian "Spitfire",and the always watchable Margaret Leighton is fine as his Barrister. Of interest in the supporting cast,as the Italian "Mama",is Marie Burke,who,in 1928, sang the Helen Morgan role of Julie LaVerne in the original London stage production of "Showboat",and did a fine job! The storyline of "The Constant Husband" would have us believe that all seven of the (known) Wives ,plus a surprise new addition,could be waiting earnestly for such a scandalous cad after he has faced up to the obvious consequences of his previous actions! Unlikely,to say the least. In conclusion,Sidney Gilliat's direction is more than adequate,but as Co-Screenplay Writer a livelier input was required.

Rex Harrison wakes up in a hotel in Wales with amnesia. Professor Cecil Parker helps him to try to discover who he was and it is not what Harrison was expecting, as he appears to be a fraud and a bigamist married to 7 different woman.

After a ponderous first 30 minutes which sets the scene, rather dryly, it gains momentum when he discovers his Italian wife and thereafter as he decides to turn himself in and face trial - which is also a lot of fun. Not as funny as it was no doubt intended, there are though some pleasures to be had here eg Judge Michael Hordern and it has a strong cast worth watching. Good enough then, but it could have been sharper.

Rex Harrisons house is in The Bishops Avenue and owned by a friend of my late father.This is an amiable comedy which has its best moments earlier on.By the time it gets to the trial it has run out of wit and invention.Launder and Gilliat would make far better films with lesser casts.They,the Boultings and Ealing all made some fine comedies in the fifties