I only saw this one because I always watch anything with Elizabeth Taylor, and she never disappoints. It's an odd little movie with a typical screwball comedy gimmick that also veers in and out of social commentary. The gimmick is that Van Johnson was a WWII Army Air Corps pilot who got wounded and had to recuperate in an Alpine monastery basement that was filled with barrels of brandy. The Luftwaffe bombed the monastery and Johnson spent 14 hours being literally up to his nose in brandy. The experience gave him psychological issues with alcohol. If he drinks even the tiniest amount he instantly gets falling-down, hallucinating, blind drunk; but in a comical way. After the war, he becomes valedictorian at his law school and gets hired by an upper-crust law firm owned by Elizabeth Taylor's father. Liz is an eye-popping 18-years-old at this point, and she plays yet another headstrong daughter of a rich guy. It's a role she could play in her sleep, but Liz was the consummate professional and she always gave great value, no matter what the part. Here she's a hawk-eyed meddler who immediately appraises Johnson as possible husband material, but first she has to fix his alcohol problem. She used to work for one of New York's top psychiatrists, so she takes it upon herself to provide Johnson's therapy.
Meanwhile, the social commentary comes in when the law firm is retained by a big-time real estate company to prevent a Chinese doctor from moving into one of their apartments. Johnson gets accidentally entangled in this situation and he feels very strongly about helping the doctor out. There's some drunken slapstick throughout the film, and it alternates jarringly with the racial injustice aspects.
At any rate, Liz comes through with another radiant performance, same as always. Also, she wears another top-shelf wardrobe, again same as always. She even does some reaction shots where she arches her eyebrows and makes her entire hairline move up and down. I never noticed her do that before.
Anyway, if you're a Liz fan, you'll appreciate this flick. It's only 82 minutes long and it zips right along. A top-notch cast gets a lot of crisp dialogue which they all deliver with admirable aplomb. All that, plus an 18-yr-old Elizabeth Taylor. It can't get any better.
Meanwhile, the social commentary comes in when the law firm is retained by a big-time real estate company to prevent a Chinese doctor from moving into one of their apartments. Johnson gets accidentally entangled in this situation and he feels very strongly about helping the doctor out. There's some drunken slapstick throughout the film, and it alternates jarringly with the racial injustice aspects.
At any rate, Liz comes through with another radiant performance, same as always. Also, she wears another top-shelf wardrobe, again same as always. She even does some reaction shots where she arches her eyebrows and makes her entire hairline move up and down. I never noticed her do that before.
Anyway, if you're a Liz fan, you'll appreciate this flick. It's only 82 minutes long and it zips right along. A top-notch cast gets a lot of crisp dialogue which they all deliver with admirable aplomb. All that, plus an 18-yr-old Elizabeth Taylor. It can't get any better.