Sometime ago I gave this film a rather negative review and a rating of "6", and I indicated it pained me to do so because Ronald Colman is one of my very favorite actors. I just finished watching it again, and I've changed my mind a bit, and I'm upgrading my rating to a "7".
I'm not sure than anyone other than Colman (and perhaps Cary Grant) could have made this film, because it took a rather urbane persona to make it work. But, Colman turns on that suave charm for which he was so famous. And that voice! It's the best thing about the film.
I guess the main problem I had with this film is Colman's costar -- Anna Lee. Her acting is "okay", but...well, let's put it this way...I'm not surprised she ended up playing in a soap opera on daytime television many years later. The bigger question here is, why would Colman's character (the husband) be attracted to and want to keep such a ditz as his wife? I can't imagine.
Charles Winninger, as the father, is quite good here, although he had better screen roles. I have to admit that one actor I don't usually care for -- Reginald Garidner -- does rather nicely here.
The first half of the film is better. The second half gets to be too much of a talky-parlour comedy. It just sort of goes flat, and seems rather smug as it does so.
As much a Colman fan as I am, this film of his isn't on my DVD shelf. It's sufficient to watch it on rare occasions on TCM.
I'm not sure than anyone other than Colman (and perhaps Cary Grant) could have made this film, because it took a rather urbane persona to make it work. But, Colman turns on that suave charm for which he was so famous. And that voice! It's the best thing about the film.
I guess the main problem I had with this film is Colman's costar -- Anna Lee. Her acting is "okay", but...well, let's put it this way...I'm not surprised she ended up playing in a soap opera on daytime television many years later. The bigger question here is, why would Colman's character (the husband) be attracted to and want to keep such a ditz as his wife? I can't imagine.
Charles Winninger, as the father, is quite good here, although he had better screen roles. I have to admit that one actor I don't usually care for -- Reginald Garidner -- does rather nicely here.
The first half of the film is better. The second half gets to be too much of a talky-parlour comedy. It just sort of goes flat, and seems rather smug as it does so.
As much a Colman fan as I am, this film of his isn't on my DVD shelf. It's sufficient to watch it on rare occasions on TCM.