tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post7833647255035670172..comments2024-03-09T15:11:29.350-08:00Comments on Exotic and irrational entertainment: Films of Jean Arthur, part 2Pessimisissimohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-32198147236213384012014-03-17T22:14:24.411-07:002014-03-17T22:14:24.411-07:00At the time of The More the Merrier, by the way, F...At the time of <i>The More the Merrier</i>, by the way, Frank Ross was Jean Arthur's husband, so presumably the story was written as a vehicle for her.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-28795987911726627922014-03-17T22:10:29.867-07:002014-03-17T22:10:29.867-07:00Bollyviewer, Walk Don't Run was based on the s...Bollyviewer, <i>Walk Don't Run</i> was based on the same Frank Ross story as <i>The More the Merrier</i>, and Ross was one of the screenwriters for the earlier film, so you're absolutely right about the connection. I haven't seen the Cary Grant version of this story, but I will say that I'm not sure that Samantha Eggar can match Jean Arthur's appeal.<br /><br />And I agree with you about the unlikelihood of <i>Talk of the Town</i>'s male leads being either working-class or American, but as with many classic Hollywood comedies somehow it doesn't matter: the sparkling dialogue and onscreen chemistry among the actors mean that we don't need to allow mere realism to get in the way of our enjoyment.<br /><br /><i>Too Many Husbands</i> must have been quite shocking in its day, and as I write in the post it's far more daring than the similar <i>My Favorite Wife</i>—after all, Jean Arthur actually remarries after her first husband goes missing, and a fair amount of the comedy centers on who will get to share her bed after his return. (The ending is delightfully, and again shockingly, ambiguous on this point.) I'm not sure how they got away with it in 1940...<br /><br />And <i>If You Could Only Cook</i> is a fun romp. Arthur would go on to do better movies, but this one definitely has its moments. <br /><br />Thanks for your comment!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-4922672512330372392014-03-16T11:21:39.808-07:002014-03-16T11:21:39.808-07:00You sure are on a Jean Arthur roll! If You Could O...You sure are on a Jean Arthur roll! <i>If You Could Only Cook</i> sounds delicious (pun intended). I will look out for it.<br /><br />I loved <i>Too Many Husbands</i>. It was such a fun romp, <i>and</i> the polyandrous Vicky was such a welcome change from Bollywood's self-sacrificing, martyred heroines. Even today, I cannot imagine Bollywood <i>ever</i> letting a heroine fall into such a predicament. <br /><br />While I enjoyed <i>Talk Of The Town</i> a lot, I couldn't help but feel that Cary Grant made a very unlikely working-class hero, and Ronald Coleman a very unlikely American!<br /> <br /><i>The More The Merrier</i> sounds a lot like <i>Walk Don't Run</i> - Cary Grant's last film. Bollyviwerhttp://bollyviewer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com