Oh, oh, oh what a girl! OK, so those aren't the lyrics to "If You Knew Susie", but that song does open this 1945 screwball comedy, a late entry in the genre that had ended after a few early 40's William Powell & Myrna Loy gems. Yes, Hollywood did make these on occasion, mostly with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Romantic comedies going forward after World War II mostly were either fantasies ("The Bishop's Wife"), political ("State of the Union") or precursors to television sitcoms ("Father of the Bride"). Hollywood still loved farce, hence actors like Bob Hope, Martin & Lewis, Joan Davis and Lucille Ball. This one, however, utilizes a bit of topical to tell its story; Susan actually appears to be more than one person, sort of a comical "Three Faces of Eve". And as played by Joan Fontaine, you're going to get more than just the wide-eyed sweet girl she normally played, as she drives at least three men crazy with her fickleness.
The Oscar Nominated screenplay gives us a story seen through flashback as a seeming support group of men tell their experiences with the pretty young woman. George Brent, an ex-husband, is a Broadway producer who got made her a star and is the focus of much of the storyline. Walter Abel, Dennis O'Keefe and Don DeFore are the other men of completely different personalities who becomes victims of Susie's obvious indecisiveness. Rita Johnson adds another viper character to her credits, playing a jealous actress who gets Fontaine drunk on her opening night, causing Brent to want to break her leg rather than wish Fontaine to (for good luck) break hers. A funny scene of a stereotypical New York married couple arguing in the park helps get Fontaine together with one of her many men. The script sometimes gets a little too chatty, but overall, it offers lots of humor.
The Oscar Nominated screenplay gives us a story seen through flashback as a seeming support group of men tell their experiences with the pretty young woman. George Brent, an ex-husband, is a Broadway producer who got made her a star and is the focus of much of the storyline. Walter Abel, Dennis O'Keefe and Don DeFore are the other men of completely different personalities who becomes victims of Susie's obvious indecisiveness. Rita Johnson adds another viper character to her credits, playing a jealous actress who gets Fontaine drunk on her opening night, causing Brent to want to break her leg rather than wish Fontaine to (for good luck) break hers. A funny scene of a stereotypical New York married couple arguing in the park helps get Fontaine together with one of her many men. The script sometimes gets a little too chatty, but overall, it offers lots of humor.