Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - Cary Grant Movie Reviews--Talk of the Town and I was a Male Warbride
Talk of the Town
What do you get when you mix an important, but serious law professor, his pleasant young landlady/secretary/cook (she's a busy woman, you see!), and a handsome escaped prisoner? I think I would say it would, indeed, give you something that the whole town would talk about.
Leopold Dilg (Grant) is framed for arson. One man dies in the fire, and Dilg is apprehended. The whole city is furious with him--and demands he be given the toughest sentence in the books. Dilg can't prove his innocence, and is overwhelmed by the evidence against him. He is put in jail, but plots his escape. He pulls it off wonderfully, and slips into the night.
Meanwhile, Nora Shelley (played by Jean Arthur), is busy preparing a house for a new tenant due the next day. Nora just so happens to be the childhood sweetheart and good friend of Leopold Dilg. However, he's the last person on her mind as the unexpected happens--the new tenant, an important law professor and Supreme Court Candidate, Michael Lightcap (Ronald Colman) arrives ahead of schedule! Nora frantically tries to make the home suitable for the professor while dealing with another surprise--finding Leopold Dilg at her doorstep. The escaped convict is banished to the attic, and Nora must hide his presence from the Professor. After all, the professor is highly esteemed in the world of law and order. Nothing could prevent him from turning Dilg in...and Nora, too, for that matter.
In a bizarre turn of events, Nora finds herself as the stuffy professor's secretary and assistant. No longer able to hide Dilg from him, she kindly introduces him as the gardener. The three warm up to each other, and Lightcap and Dilg become good friends, even through their debates on law and justice.
Of course, it becomes increasingly difficult to hide Dilg's true identity from Lightcap. Nora tries hard--such as carefully removing the pictures of Dilg in the professor's newspaper-- but eventually the wise Lightcap figures it all out. He is conflicted--should he give Dilg up, or explore the case of his new found friend in hopes to prove his innocence?
Nora also has to make a decision--both men are growing very fond of her. Likewise, she finds them both interesting. Will she return the feelings of the strict yet kind-hearted legal scholar and find happiness in the prominent Washington, DC circles as his wife, or will she choose Dilg, who at any moment may find himself back in jail? Interestingly, two endings were shot for this film--one where Nora chooses Dilg, and another where she chooses Lightcap. Hint: only one of them was used!
Most would call this film a comedy. And yes, it has some hilarious moments. But I think I would consider this film a great example of a social satire. Lightcap and Dilg become friends through their different beliefs about the justice system. Both must learn that their viewpoints are equally important. Lightcap's well-delivered courtroom speech is one of many moments that bring out the meaning behind this screwball comedy.
Quotes from the movie:
"What is the law? It's a gun pointed at somebody's head. All depends upon which end of the gun you stand, whether the law is just or not."--Dilg"Stop saying "Leopold" like that, tenderly. It sounds funny. You can't do it with a name like Leopold." --Dilg
I WAS A MALE WAR-BRIDE
Cary Grant is a "man's man" to cinema (to me, anyhow!)....well, then there is this movie. You may just think twice about that statement after seeing this movie. Just kidding, despite some of the strange (yet hilariously done) actions of Grant's character in this movie, it's not all that bad.
Grant plays the French (with a very un-French accent, I must say!) officer Captain Henri Rochard, who is often assigned to work with the professional, annoying (to him), yet pretty Lieutenant Catherine Gates. Despite their protests, the unlikely duo are given an assignment together--one that goes dreadfully wrong. A series of comical adventures follow them, and the two find themselves not only having to rely on each other, but actually...well, just maybe, becoming...dare I say the word? Friends.
Obviously, the smart thing for the two of them to do now is to fall in love. Piece of cake. So's the marriage ceremony--make that ceremonies, since he's French, she's American, and they are working in Germany. The happy couple plan to spend a lovely honeymoon, and return to Catherine's home in the United States later. That is, until Catherine is ordered back to the US--and without her husband, as he is not an American citizen!
Lucky for Henri, Catherine finds a loophole. The War Bride's act--any spouse or child of military personnel may enter the US. Unfortunately for Henri, this act normally applies to male soldiers that married foreign civilian women. Henri may just find some problems trying to convince everyone that he is, in fact, a male war-bride. The only way he will be able to get around the bureaucratic officials, Henri realizes, will be to pose as a woman!
Quotes from the movie:
"I am an alien spouse of female military personnel en route to the United States under public law 271 of the Congress." --Henri
"I'm *Mr.* Rochard." --Henri "Well, it's your *wife* who must report here for transportation to Bremerhaven."--solider
"According to the War Department, I *am* my wife!"--Henri
Comments
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sharla88
LoL I know! I love my hat! Its very cute and I wear it just for fun around the house talking like Scarlet. LoL Im so wierd. I ALMOST got a bonnet that was quite fab. LoL,but I loved that one so yea....
Yea that was a good cake.
LoL you should see all the AH stuff I have on the cmp. I just havent posted them yet there all wonderful pictures, oh yea BTW the new LIFE mag. that justcame out is a dedication to her!!!! Its beeen fifteen years sence she died on jan. 20 so they did that I bought it I was going to post a picture of it. LoL
GB~
sharla~
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lotrsavvy
I think I saw that second movie you mentioned... I can't remember. LOL
Yah, I want to do something special. Yes, a LOTR party would be awesome, if everyone I invited liked LOTR.. actually... I think they do. LOL Awww, yeah, not many people ever come to my parties. It was just 1 for my 17th... 2 counting my sisters' friend. :(
Jennifer
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CrossView
Ooh! They both look fun! =D
This made me laugh AND say hmmmm....:
"What is the law? It's a gun pointed at somebody's head. All depends upon which end of the gun you stand, whether the law is just or not."--Dilg
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sharla88
LoL Yep Im sure we would LoL. I found to my sadness that I can fake a great southern accent! XD
Oh cool! Yes Its a great mag. Its kinda expensive,but I had to get it I love it. There are some really good pics. in it I was happy. LoL Yea I should like watch all the movies I have by her LoL (which is only like three)
GB~
sharla~
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - Emily,
Posted by SuperAngel
Yes, very darling, huh?? Yes it was the first time we had met Susy. She is such a doll.
I think the movie is new because I didn’t even know there was one either. I couldn’t find it on IMDB.COM either.
It was a fine movie for kids. It is actually geared more towards children. He would probably enjoy it.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Have a great day!!
Love, Prayers, and Blessings,
Amanda
http://superangelsblog.com
Thursday, January 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by carygrant19
I noticed the lack of French accent, too!
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