First, the good news. A really first-rate pressing of this hard-to- find-a-decent-copy movie is available in the extra-cheap "Hollywood Comedy Legends" set. And now the bad news: Despite the efforts of a first-rate cast, the film is somewhat disappointing and I'm really surprised that Lubitsch regarded the movie with such affection. True, he had a really first-rate roster of players, although all of them (no doubt on Lubitsch's instructions) tend to over-act, especially Burgess Meredith.
It's also true that the movie's screenplay presents some good comedy ideas, but they are played to death. We keep waiting for that famed Lubitsch touch, but it never really happens. The film comes across more like a photographed stage play that has been spun out to Three Acts purely for the purpose of giving audiences a run for their money. True, the director takes care to keep things moving, even when the players are not doing or saying anything really amusing, but it's simply not enough to keep audience interest at a high level.
It's also true that the movie's screenplay presents some good comedy ideas, but they are played to death. We keep waiting for that famed Lubitsch touch, but it never really happens. The film comes across more like a photographed stage play that has been spun out to Three Acts purely for the purpose of giving audiences a run for their money. True, the director takes care to keep things moving, even when the players are not doing or saying anything really amusing, but it's simply not enough to keep audience interest at a high level.