The Grass Is Greener [1960] [DVD]

Though this movie doesn't seem to have good criticism by the critics, I love this. The reasons are as follows.
1. 5 main actors and actresses are wonderful and delightful to watch.
(4 stars and Morley Watson ----They are almost the only players in this movie.)
Especially, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. According to several books, their
original casting was "Charls Delacro" and "Hattie Durant" which Robert Mitchum
and Jean Simmons played, and Lex Harrison and Kay Kendall were originally
intended for the leading roles, but the death of Kay Kendall had changed all.
I think the original casting might have been intresting too.
Cary Grant plays an English Lord husband who is trying to take his wife(Deborah
Kerr)back by an unusual way from an American oil-millionaire(Robert Mitchum) who
fell in love with her and stole her heart. In this uniqe role, Cary shows
maturity as well as his comedian talent, sophistication. Deborah kerr also shows
her comedienne talent. I truly appreciate her various performance ability.
I think her atractiveness is elegant sex appeal oozed out of graceful, proper
performance no matter what a role is.
In this movie, Cary and Deborah's long talk scene after a duel is very charming
and their chemistry is superb.

2.Full of witty daialogues and Stanley Donen's smart direction
I enjoyed the dialogues full of humor and wit which are associated with Oscar
Wilde,Noel Coward,and William Somerset Maugham. Also I enjoyed several cleverly
directed scenes such as the shynchronized telephone scene in split screen, the
metaphorical dating scenes of Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum , which cotinue
picnic scene, boat scene, dance hall scene, concert scene, restaurant scene,
hotel's drawing room to bedroom's closing door scene, all scenes without showing
the two.

3.Music composed by Noel Coward
Romantic, lyrical melody. Especially, the music for Deborah Kerr and Robert
MItchum scene, also the music for Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant scene, they are
so delicious.

My requests to this DVD
(1)to subtitle in English
(2)to add special feature something like "making film"

The Grass Is Greener is directed by Stanley Donen and stars Cary Grant, Robert Mitchum, Deborah Kerr & Jean Simmons. It's adapted by Hugh Williams & Margaret Vyner from the play of the same name which they had both written and found success with in London's West End. Music is by Noel Coward and Christopher Challis is the cinematographer.

Struggling financially, the Earl & Countess of Rhyall (Grant & Kerr) start giving tours around their stately mansion. Enter Charles Delacro (Mitchum) & Hattie Durant (Simmons), whose appearance at the mansion sets in motion the wheels of love, jealousy and machismo fuelled duelling.

Considered too talky on its release, The Grass Is Greener, it's fair to say, is more for those who are either into the star wattage on offer, or for those who are romantics at heart. Upon first viewing the film doesn't appear to have much in the way of comedy, in fact when Grant is either off screen or out of ear shot there's a hole as big as the implausibility factor in the plot. However, further viewings (well listenings really) reveal a sharper script than the one critics gave credit for back in the day. There's plenty of "nudge nudge" winkery going on, while the portrayals of the rich American & British characters (could they get any more polar opposite than Grant & Mitchum?) has a nice glint in the eye to them.

On the cast front, Grant is as smooth and classy as he always is, with his sometimes undervalued comedy timing here in full force. Kerr & Simmons look attractive, with the latter benefiting greatly from some outrageously punky Dior costumes. While Mitchum, tho no master of comedy, works his laconic low tone charm to great effect off of Grant's well spoken aristo verbality. However, look away from the big four heading the cast and you find much comedy value in Moray Watson as the Butler. He, along with Challis' photography inside of the house, are arguably the stars of the show. A fine film for the patient to enjoy, even if it's not the masterpiece that its cast list suggests it should be. 7/10

Having seen the play "The grass is greener" at the Windsor Theatre and particularly enjoyed the dialogue I was interested to see what sort of job Hollywood made of it. I was pleasantly entertained especially by Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr and delighted by the script which obviously kept closely to the original as it was by Hugh Williams. Of course I never would have bought the DVD if I hadn't seen the play!