IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
An American junior diplomat in London rents a house from, and falls in love with, a woman suspected of murder.An American junior diplomat in London rents a house from, and falls in love with, a woman suspected of murder.An American junior diplomat in London rents a house from, and falls in love with, a woman suspected of murder.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Leon Alton
- Courtroom Spectator
- (uncredited)
Al Bain
- Courtroom Spectator
- (uncredited)
Frank Baker
- Bar Patron
- (uncredited)
Brandon Beach
- Juror
- (uncredited)
Marjorie Bennett
- Autograph Seeker
- (uncredited)
Barry Bernard
- Attendant
- (uncredited)
Paul Bradley
- Lamplighter Patron
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I saw this film for the first time on Turner Classic Movies tonight
A comedy set in England with this quartet of leads - Jack Lemmon, Kim Novak, Fred Astaire, Lionel Jeffries - a London cab full of great character actors, crisp and fully-toned black and white photography and a script from Larry Gelbert and Blake Edwards could not have been more pleasant. Gershwin's "A Foggy Day in London Town," washed it in additional wonderfulness. The sequences near the end of the film at a seaside resort in Penzance is wickedly choreographed with actors, camera moves and scoring for big laughs to a live band shell performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan ditty. Everything is spot on, silly to smart.
A comedy set in England with this quartet of leads - Jack Lemmon, Kim Novak, Fred Astaire, Lionel Jeffries - a London cab full of great character actors, crisp and fully-toned black and white photography and a script from Larry Gelbert and Blake Edwards could not have been more pleasant. Gershwin's "A Foggy Day in London Town," washed it in additional wonderfulness. The sequences near the end of the film at a seaside resort in Penzance is wickedly choreographed with actors, camera moves and scoring for big laughs to a live band shell performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan ditty. Everything is spot on, silly to smart.
This movie is not bad at all,not one of Lemmon's best by any stretch of the imagination but it has some funny situations and its likable for the most part.Near the ending it gets completely out of hand and instead of comedy-mystery which is the most part,it becomes mad slapstick for no apparent reason.Is like someone told the scriptwriter that a Lemmon movie should be crazier than what they had up to that point.Anyway,its kinda weird this way from that point on but you get to smile and the stars are all likable.Novak is at her sexiest, even in B&W!!Funny role for Astaire who was at his second career by that time,plays a manipulating official at the American Embassy in London with an eye for Novak.
Kim Novak was a Columbia star and went from a supporting role in Jack Lemmon's great Phfft to co star in Bell Book and Candle to lead and top billed over Jack Lemmon in this wickedly funny comedy mystery directed by Richard Quine.
This was the last movie Kim Novak made at Columbia and ended a legendary relationship between studio and star where Kim made Picnic, Pal Joey, Bell Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet among others and her declared favorite film Middle Of The Night. Looking at times like the fabled Jean Harlow Ms. Novak reaches the top of the stardom ladder in this film.
To me Kim Novak was what a movie star looked like!
This was the last movie Kim Novak made at Columbia and ended a legendary relationship between studio and star where Kim made Picnic, Pal Joey, Bell Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet among others and her declared favorite film Middle Of The Night. Looking at times like the fabled Jean Harlow Ms. Novak reaches the top of the stardom ladder in this film.
To me Kim Novak was what a movie star looked like!
Pleasant mystery/comedy with a young energetic Jack Lemmon and an attractive Kim Novak developing a love interest (as expected) while trying to solve the problem of the apparent murder of her husband. Some intriguing plot twists and surprising jumps. Light film provides a nice diversion for an hour and a half especially with the presence of Fred Astaire and Lionel Jefferies.
Unfortunately it does not appear to be available on video tape at the present time.
Unfortunately it does not appear to be available on video tape at the present time.
Jack Lemmon, an American, has newly arrived in England for business, and he rents a room in Kim Novak's house. When she's first introduced, she has a Cockney accent and tells him she's the maid of the house. Turns out, she's also American, and she owns the house-what else is she hiding? Jack's boss, Fred Astaire, and Lionel Jeffries at Scotland Yard believe Kim's hiding an awful lot, and they enlist Jack to help in their investigation. But when you're dating your landlady, do you really want to help put her in jail?
In their third onscreen pairing, Kim Novak and Jack Lemmon are dynamite in The Notorious Landlady! Jack is hilarious and charming in this classic 60s comedy, and while she isn't given much to do, Kim is as beautiful and alluring as her character requires. Fred, in a non-musical role, is very funny as well. If you're a fan of any of these three, this movie's a must-see! I'd praise the timing and chemistry as the elements that shine the brightest in this film, but the story is really interesting, too. This is a great flick to watch with your friends or your sweetie pie, or by yourself when you've had a stressful week and want some easy laughs. It's very funny, from the first scene to the last. Naturally, my favorite scenes are with Fred. Everything out of his mouth is hilarious!
In their third onscreen pairing, Kim Novak and Jack Lemmon are dynamite in The Notorious Landlady! Jack is hilarious and charming in this classic 60s comedy, and while she isn't given much to do, Kim is as beautiful and alluring as her character requires. Fred, in a non-musical role, is very funny as well. If you're a fan of any of these three, this movie's a must-see! I'd praise the timing and chemistry as the elements that shine the brightest in this film, but the story is really interesting, too. This is a great flick to watch with your friends or your sweetie pie, or by yourself when you've had a stressful week and want some easy laughs. It's very funny, from the first scene to the last. Naturally, my favorite scenes are with Fred. Everything out of his mouth is hilarious!
Did you know
- TriviaThough frequently shown on television throughout the 1970s, the film disappeared from circulation for nearly thirty years, one of very few Columbia star vehicles the studio neglected to release on Betamax, VHS or laserdisc. There was no legal wrangle at the core of this; the film simply fell out of favor and was largely forgotten. In recent years, the movie has returned to circulation, enjoying multiple releases on DVD and Blu-ray.
- Goofs(at around 1h 20 mins) When Bill runs up the stairs to confront Carly after the trial, he brushes his left hand across the square column on the landing and leaves a large smear, indicating the column had been painted recently.
- Quotes
William 'Bill' Gridley: Sir, if I may, I don't think you're taking the proper share of the blame...
Franklyn Ambruster: Gridley, you will learn that the higher your position, the more mistakes you're allowed. In fact, if you make enough of them, it's considered your style. Now you happen to be in what I would call a one-mistake position, and you've made it.
- Crazy creditsMiss Novak's gowns designed by... Herself
- ConnectionsReferenced in I've Got a Secret: Kim Novak (1962)
- SoundtracksA Foggy Day (in London Town)
(uncredited)
Music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin
instrumental theme of the score
Jack Lemmon half sings/half intones a line from that song : "And suddenly I saw you there..." and then hums the melody.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Mi bella acusada
- Filming locations
- Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch - 411 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA(street scenes outside apartment)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $11,040
- Runtime
- 2h 3m(123 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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