Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliiat utilised Rex Harrison's roguish charm to good effect in the rather lightweight 'Constant Husband' in 1955. Here we are ten years earlier with what is probably their best film and certainly one of Harrison's best performances. His plays Vivian Kenway, a man who is not exactly a jackpot of admirable character traits being a dissolute wastrel and spendthrift. Unlike the Rake in Hogarth's engravings of 1735 he does not descend into madness although at one stage it looks as if he might but redeems himself as a war hero. Although throughout most of the film Kenway's behaviour is reprehensible one cannot bring oneself to dislike him which is surely a testament to Harrison's portrayal. One has a sneaking admiration for his devil-may-care, something will turn up attitude and as for his success with women, it takes two to tango. The three principal women in his life are very contrasted.'It' plus 'It' equals 'chemistry' and that between Harrison and his then wife, the superlative Lilli Palmer, is there for all to see. Margaret Johnston is splendid and no one does 'flighty' quite as well as Jean Kent. Mention must be made of Godfrey Tearle's beautifully understated and moving performance as Kenway Senior. Needless to say some supposedly amoral scenes were trimmed for American audiences. The assertion by Gilliat that the film's title was changed to 'The Notorious Gentleman' so that Americans would not mistake it for a picture about gardening sounds too absurd to be true but I see no reason to doubt him! Kenway's character is essentially a microcosm of the type that thrived in the 1930's for whom the outbreak of war proved a death knell. This super film not only entertains but also captures an era. Rex Harrison's personal life was 'dramatic' to say the least and although one should not make a habit of confusing an actor with the parts he plays, it is interesting that Alexander Walker entitled his biography of Harrison 'Fatal Charm'!
Review of Notorious Gentleman
