Chasse aux maris

After the turning point of NIGHT MUST FALL, Robert Montgomery (for the most time) came into his finest films and performances: HERE COMES MR. JORDAN, THEY WERE EXPENDABLE, THE LADY IN THE LAKE, RIDE THE PINK HORSE, THE SAXON CHARM, JUNE BRIDE. Even some of the failures he was in were interesting enough to be still watchable (RAGE IN HEAVEN, MR. AND MRS. SMITH). But Montgomery wanted to do more and more production and directing work. In 1949 he made what would be his last movie performance - he played Collier Lang, an egotistical movie star, who is dragged into helping the authorities do an investigation about a young girl's boyfriend.

Apparently my view of this film is a minority view. Most of the views given are favorable about it. I thought it was a dull, witless script, with Ann Blyth's groupie heroine not very appealing as a character. She admires Montgomery as a star, and this "helps" when he is called in to assist the authorities, but after awhile I found there was no chemistry between them. The script was also devoid of much fun, although Montgomery and Roland Winters did try. The only thing I recall to this day as a joke point was that Taylor Holmes is the wealthy father of Blyth, and he is an admirer of Winston Churchill. So he always dresses up as Churchill, and we see him wearing a floppy broad brimmed hat, smoking a large cigar, and painting (Holmes' bald head helps in the disguise). That was the most memorable joke from this film - not much of a real memory.

Montgomery went into early television, and finally won the attention and respect he always had deserved in motion pictures. His last contact with the movies was his direction of THE GALLANT HOURS about Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, starring his friend Jimmy Cagney. It is a far better film than this. For his overall film and television career, I will give this mediocre film a "4". That strikes me as generous.

I like Montgomery in several movies, especially "The Night Has Eyes" with Rosalind Russell. However, this movie is clearly not one of his best. The plot does not make sense. No one would believe for a moment that Ann Blythe would fall in love with Robert Montgomery, at least not in this movie. For this movie to be a comedy, the only time I found myself laughing was when the older woman (at his mother's shindig)asks Blythe's character if she is the one who is wearing the perfume shortly before she coughs. Charles McGraw (I know I keep talking about him, but you know he's my favorite actor)could have seen his role beefed up since it is obvious his character is a comedic foil for Collie's character. Definitely not a good day for Montgomery and company. I do not think the people responsible for this movie really thought it through before making it. I'm glad Montgomery rebounded later with "They Were Expendable". He went on to become a speech adviser for President Eisenhower. Mercedyz

Collie Lang (Robert Montgomery) is an aspiring actor - though he seems a bit old to just be aspiring. Maybe the war delayed his plans? This is never explained. His mother is an accomplished attorney. She must have been practicing in the roaring 20s - what a trailblazer. But I digress.

The beginning of the film shows Collie appearing on a movie set dressed in kilts and speaking his lines that include the title - "once more my darling" while focusing on a set technician who looks like a bulldog. This is amusing in and of itself, but even more so if you know something about Montgomery's career. Twenty years before, in Buster Keaton's sound debut "Free and Easy", he was forced to dress up like a Cossack and sing a duet. It was ridiculous, so maybe Montgomery is reminiscing?

Montgomery, as an army reservist, is unwillingly pressed back into service to romance a debutante so that he can out her jewel thieving boyfriend, who is apparently very jealous. Why is the US government interested in a jewel caper? Because the purloined jewels came from a European estate that is still under allied supervision. The reason they pick him? He's "pretty". That's it. Not his acting skills or anything else. This is the preposterous premise I mention in the title.

The debutante turns out to be Ann Blythe in a delightful and unexpected performance as "Killer"/Marita Connell. She is a very quirky girl who speaks her every thought to everyone she meets while soaking herself in a particularly pungent perfume. Montgomery directed this film and he did a great job with this screwball comedy about ten years after that genre reached the height of its popularity.

It does get close to breeching the production code at times. For example, there is a scene where Killer and Collie are sharing the same hotel room, Killer is wearing a skimpy tennis outfit with the word "KILLER" embroidered across the front, and they are discussing whether or not they are safe.

Very much recommended if you can ever find a copy.

Engaging comedy with a rather nutty premise but the skillful playing of the cast make it work. Ann Blyth embraces her inner ditz as the bubbly, forward teen who is instantly smitten with Montgomery on sight. Montgomery, one of the best light comedians of Golden Age Hollywood, carries the film right along with an air of deer in the headlights helplessness at the onslaught of ardor that Ann's character unleashes his way. Theatre great Jane Cowl is also highly amusing in one of only four film appearance's as Bob's mother.

One small drawback. Montgomery is a perfect choice for the breeziness necessary to make his character work but he was 45 at the time this was made and looks it, whereas Ann Blyth was 24 playing 19 and is convincing as such making their pairing a bit off. They would have been better paired as a father and daughter at this point. Be that as it may this is still a pleasant little known film.

I was surprised, "Once More, My Darling", had not generated enough votes (at this writing) for a "user rating". It's a "screwy" comedy I have enjoyed many times over the years. Robert Montgomery's mission places him in some very improbable situations, and he's just the man for the job. He maintains his trademark "befuddled" look throughout the film and hysterically, too. Ann Blyth plays his precocious/eccentric pursuer, who assumes a relationship that does not exist. Her character is kooky enough to warrant the unearned nickname "Killer", but remains cute and cuddly.

Among the glut of "B" movies from the late 1940's and 1950's, "Once More, My Darling" is a standout. This one is worth looking for....