- Actors: Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Rudy Vallee, Barbara Lawrence, Kurt Kreuger
- Directors: Preston Sturges
- Writers: Preston Sturges
- Producers: Preston Sturges
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Second Sight
- DVD Release Date: 21 Jun 2004
- Run Time: 105 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00021Y8X2
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 84,283 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Despite liking a couple of his movies, I've never been a fan of Preston Sturges, and a second viewing of Unfaithfully Yours did nothing to change that. With rare exceptions like Frasier or Comme une Image, most supposedly `sophisticated' comedies are usually either too clever by half or not half as clever as they think they are: this definitely falls into the latter category. It may be slightly more articulate, but it still comes down to pratfalls and clichés clumsily dispensed (not to mention an incredibly one-dimensional role for Linda Darnell as the wife whose sole reason for existence seems to be to worship her husband). Unfortunately it soon becomes apparent that despite his confidence in the early part of the film, Rex Harrison is entirely wrong for the part: aside from being so incredibly unsympathetic that he simply alienates you for most of the film, he has absolutely no facility for physical comedy, which renders what could and should have been a great comic setpiece where he accidentally trashes his hotel room far more thoroughly than any rock star ever could even dream of rather tedious and protracted. (Alfred Newman's surprisingly crudely over the top slide-whistle and horn 'comic' underscoring all but stones the scene to death, a surprising lapse of judgment from a great composer in a film revolving around classical music.) In the hands of an actor with a modicum of physical comedy timing it could have been gold, but instead it's almost reduced to a technical exercise.
But the same could be said for much of the film. The idea of having the execution and resolution of Harrison's fantasies dictated by the pace of the music he conducts (Rossini for murder, Wagner for mournful forgiveness, Tchaikovsky for suicide) is inspired, but it results in scenes that feel forced, as if at the mercy of a galley slave master's drumbeat. That the scenes themselves are so predictable doesn't help, as goodwill and admiration gradually gives way to boredom in the second half.
There are, however, two saving graces. One is the scene in private detective Edgar Kennedy's office, where Harrison is furious to discover that the man he has come to castigate is a knowledgeable fan with his own tale of loss. The scene is crudely performed and reads better than it plays, but there's heart and humanity there that's lacking in too much of the rest of the film. But the film's genuine standout moment is the orchestra rehearsal, one of the best pieces of filmed musical performance in the movies, not only showing how the music is constructed but showing the life, character and human soul behind it. The loss of those qualities in the rest of the movie is all the more keenly felt in an increasingly arid and overplayed technical exercise.
But the same could be said for much of the film. The idea of having the execution and resolution of Harrison's fantasies dictated by the pace of the music he conducts (Rossini for murder, Wagner for mournful forgiveness, Tchaikovsky for suicide) is inspired, but it results in scenes that feel forced, as if at the mercy of a galley slave master's drumbeat. That the scenes themselves are so predictable doesn't help, as goodwill and admiration gradually gives way to boredom in the second half.
There are, however, two saving graces. One is the scene in private detective Edgar Kennedy's office, where Harrison is furious to discover that the man he has come to castigate is a knowledgeable fan with his own tale of loss. The scene is crudely performed and reads better than it plays, but there's heart and humanity there that's lacking in too much of the rest of the film. But the film's genuine standout moment is the orchestra rehearsal, one of the best pieces of filmed musical performance in the movies, not only showing how the music is constructed but showing the life, character and human soul behind it. The loss of those qualities in the rest of the movie is all the more keenly felt in an increasingly arid and overplayed technical exercise.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although not as brilliant or daring as some of Sturges' earlier work, "Unfaithfully Yours" is still quite funny. Rex Harrison is a conducter who suddenly starts to have suspicions about his wife and plans the best way to kill her... only nothing goes according to plan. As for the DVD the picture is quite good throughout (my guess is that has been restored), but the sound does get a bit annoying from time to time. As for the extras there are some interviews, but nothing very interesting - still is the film thatmakes it worth.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first saw this some 30 years ago when I was only 12. I've always remembered the scene with "Squeak! Squeak! I hate dry white bread". I saw it again just two days ago and laughed so hard my ribs actually ached. It's slow to start, but give it time - when the comedy gets going it's worth it. It's great to see the affection with which lesser scenes were also done in those days, and I'm thinking of the orchestra rehearsal in particular, where you get a great sense of the cast enjoying themselves too. Rex Harrison is undeniably extrovert, but then that's the kind of guy he was, and for this film he's perfect.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A classic that ranks among the greatest of black comedies
It is easy to understand why they changed everything but the bare premise of this movie for the 1984 remake. Read more
Published 20 months ago by L. E. Cantrell
Atrocious
This film is complete rubbish.
This is the story - for the first 45 minutes absolutely NOTHING
happens. This is quite difficult to achieve so deserves a mention. Read more
This is the story - for the first 45 minutes absolutely NOTHING
happens. This is quite difficult to achieve so deserves a mention. Read more
Published on 19 May 2009 by Alex da Silva
Preston Sturges delightful comedy
Preston Sturges directed this delightful 1940s Hollywood comedy starring Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Rudy Vallee and Barbara Lawrence. Read more
Published on 19 April 2009 by hmorley
A high style masterpiece from Preston Sturges and Rex Harrison
Says British conductor Alfred De Carter to his younger and adoring wife, Daphne, at the close of Unfaithfully Yours, "A thousand poets dreamed a thousand years... Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2007 by C. O. DeRiemer
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