Riptide [DVD] [1934] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

"Rip Tide", is not a film which is well known nowadays and like much of Norma Shearer's film work has been either forgotten or relegated to the late show. Despite getting a so so nod of approval from the critics at the time it was a very successful "comeback' vechicle for Norma after two years away from the screen caring for her ailing husband the MGM boy genius Irving Thalberg who was recovering from his first heart attack. Indeed if any film apart from the classic "Marie Antoniette", and "The Women" really showcases what the Shearer chic and sophistication were all about in the glamourous 1930's the glossy "Rip Tide" was it.

"Rip Tide" relates the story of life in high society for Park Avenue socialite Mary who finds herself at the pinnacle of social status by a chance meeting with an English Lord. On a whim after accidently meeting Lord Phillip Rexford (played in usual dull style by perrenial leading man Herbert Marshall) at a bizzare insect themed party Mary marries him and settles into a comfortable, socially prominent and quite stifling existence only to find herself torn between her martial obligations as Lady of the manor and the more exciting embraces of playboy and former flame Tommie Trent (played in carefree style by Robert Montgomery). What results is scandal, double standards, deception and martial compromise before the necessary sensible resolution which finds Mary realise that home and hearth are a far better and more sensible solution than the unsure existence as the partner of a renowned party boy.

Out of such vintage soap opera has been fashioned a really superb marital drama about an era and style of life long gone. "Rip Tide", was Irving Thalberg's first big venture as an independant producer in the MGM family and he did not disappoint with a lavish vechicle in every department for his wife's official MGM comeback. Everything that the audience has come to expect of a first class MGM star vechicle of the 1930's is present here. The film boasts a wonderful supporting cast headed (Mrs.) Patrick Campbell in the role of Aunt Hetty, Mary's unofficial counsellor in all things marital. A very rare excursion into film for Campbell it is unique in capturing her superb acting talents on screen. "Rip Tide" literally glows with technical talent as well. Adrian created what were probably some of the most famous contemporary costumes here and his outfits for Norma Shearer really defined totally her glamour image as the fashion queen of MGM. The stylish Cedric Gibbons interiors for both the New York settings and those in Monte Carlo are also a sight to behold. The performances in "Rip Tide",despite its soap opera origins are also exceptional. Norma Shearer has often been the target for criticism for her acting but in truth she was never better than here in her role as Lady Mary Rexford the flighty, fun loving wife of a much different man from a totally different strata of society . She is both fun to watch and beautiful to look at and still manages to portray the stylish lady-like character which became her trade mark. Robert Montgomery in his last of a number of successful teamings with Norma registers well as the carefree and irresponsible playboy in a role similiar to that he had done in countless other MGM productions. Herbert Marshall while a dull character in the story, also gives a great performance as the husband coming from a different world to his young wife and who has great diffuclty in adapting himself to the one he truly loves.

While "Rip Tide" could be regarded as the typical MGM production it has alot more to offer than that. For those that love to see the great stars perform in roles tailored especially to their studio created personas this film is unsurpassed. Not a great deal of Norma Shearer's work is available for viewing in this day and here you have the opportunity to see her at her peak both in beauty and box office standing. Definately one for the white tie and tails, champagne set "Rip Tide" is the ideal way to lose yourself for a couple of hours in the lives of the rich and beautiful where real life worries have no place. Enjoy Norma Shearer's glamourous presence in MGM's classic "Rip Tide".

I had been trying to find "Riptide" for my video collection for some time. I really have to thank Amazon.com for providing me the opportunity to buy this out-of-print gem (and their great customer service department). Norma Shearer was a great actress on her own (despite the fact that she was wife of MGM's head of production, Irving Thalberg, a.k.a. Louis B. Mayer's "wonder boy"). In "Riptide," Shearer plays Mary, a free spirit Park Avenue socialite who, through her overly-developed sense of responsibility to an old flame, becomes inadvertantly embroiled in a tabloid-type scandal. While her proper English husband (Herbert Marshall) must travel to the U.S.A. on a working "no-wives-allowed" junket, Mary travels the Meditteranean with friends and is persuaded to help sober up her old flame (Robert Montgomery). Through the classic comedy-of-errors formula, he winds up drunkenly falling off her balcony into the hotel cafe below. The architypal drawing-room love triangle plot ensues. Especially funny are the opening scene, when the main characters are preparing to go to a costume party dressed as giant insects, and the scene where Mary and her "Aunt Hattie" get totally roaring "tipsy" in the study. Break out the champagne and orchids, this one's a keeper!

In this glossy MGM picture, "First Lady of the Screen", Norma Shearer, plays Mary, a reformed ex-liberated girl who marries into British Aristocracy, through the person of stuffy Lord Rexford, properly impersonated by reliable Herbert Marshall, who excelled in these type of roles, of dignified, formal and very moral husbands: I can remember "Blonde Venus" and "Angel", both opposite Marlene Dietrich, and "The Little Foxes" and "The Letter", both with Bette Davis, though one must never forget he once played brilliantly, a debonair crook and man of the world, in Lubitsch's masterpiece "Trouble in Paradise" (1932).

The film is entertaining indeed, has a fine pace, although at the same time is somewhat episodic, showcasing Norma Shearer at the epitome of her movie stardom, in her last screen appearance with frequent co-star Robert Montgomery, who's very good as the extremely bon-vivant playboy Tommie Trent. Wonderful support by Mrs. Patrick Campbell as Lady Riversleigh, Marshall's naughty and mischievous aunt and by Lilyan Tashman as Shearer's sister, who, sadly, appears too little on the screen.

The movie's plot certainly wouldn't have passed the censorship some moths later, when the Production Code was fully enforced, because Shearer would have necessarily been punished for all the playing around with playboy Montgomery, while husband Marshall is away on a business travel, so it's pretty adult stuff by later Hollywood standards of the 1940s and 1950s.

You'll be surprised by the opening sequence, which shows Shearer and Marshall dressed in very exotic and sophisticated giant insects costumes, for a lavish party.