The Talk of the Town (1942)

the audience applauded

Crappy film

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

1942. Directed by George Stevens, who directed Shane; written by Irwin Shaw, who wrote The Young Lions; nominated for 7 Oscars. This muddled mess terminally bewilders me. One reviewer tells me Cary Grant acts as a Marxist. Useful to know. Difficult to figure. He does not convince as an escaped jailbird, whether framed or not, and certainly not as a gardener. He seemed bemused by his role, as if he didn't understand how to fill it. He is atrociously cast. Ronald Colman is slightly better cast, except that he is supposed to be 100% American, and is inescapably 100% stuffily British. Was that supposed to be a Boston accent ?The repeated arrival of the furniture men, and the exploited mother, reminded me forcibly of various Marx Brothers films. I was expecting these characters, totally extraneous to the plot, whatever it was meant to be, to start handing sandwiches around. Which reminds me: was the story meant to be who winds up with the girl ? Or was it something to do with the law acting against corruption in a democracy ? And lying to the police if necessary ? Given the date, was it planned to encourage America to come into WWII on the side of Russia ? Or was Colman meant to be a proto-typical secret agent type ? Is Leopold Dilg a real name ? And is Lightcap ? His wooing of Georgina Bush (Bush ? curious name) is the clumsiest I ever saw. He sleeps when it rains and the wind is howling with his window open. Dilg is the loudest snorer I ever heard. How did Nora manage to wear Lightcap's spare pyjamas ? It's not funny.I watched it twice, hoping it would improve the second time around. But no. I was going to give it five stars, persuaded by the positive reviews. Now I feel obliged to deduct at least one star. I saw it in order to see Ronald Colman. What talk is the title talking about ?

An escaped prisoner (Cary Grant) and a stuffy law professor (Ronald Colman) vie for the hand of a spirited schoolteacher (Jean Arthur).That description of the plot is a bit misleading. While that certainly is true, and you will not know who she ends up with (if either of them) until the end, it is hardly the main story. This is the story of an innocent man being persecuted by a prejudiced town and of a law professor who only knows the ivory tower and not the real world.While this could be called a romantic comedy in the loosest sense of the term, it is much more than that and much deeper. It is a story of justice, of American rights, and a lively discussion of what the law is and how it should operate.Was there a deeper political message here? Could be. You make the call: a Red Scare theme? Pacifist sympathizers? Who knows?

George Stevens was a great director and this film is one of his best comedies. Filmed at Columbia and using its biggest star Jean Arthur, it is a delightful film. Cary Grant and Ronald Colman two of the finest actors of the Golden Age fill out the cast. One is amazed at the chemistry of the trio. Colman and Arthur to me had the most beautiful speaking voices of any actor and actress. Ever! Cary Grant is superb in this film and to me the perfect leading man. Years later Cary Grant would remake Ms Arthur's greatest hit The More The Merrier as Walk Don't Run and then retire.Ms. Arthur's bio said she was born in 1908 but was really born in 1900 and thus 42 years old when this film was produced. Jean Arthur looked wonderful and stylish and oh that voice. Ms. Arthur at Columbia starred in many hits such as Mr Smith Goes To Washington, Only Angels Have Wings, The More The Merrier and Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. Amazing body of work yet Ms. Arthur felt harassed by Harry Cohn of Columbia and partially due to his treatment Ms. Arthur retreated to Carmel and a reclusive life. Ms. Arthur would reunite one more time with Stevens in the magnificent western Shane at Paramount.In her great career Ms. Arthur was directed by Billy Wilder, Frank Capra, George Stevens, Howeard Hawks and co star with John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Rita Hayworth Ronald Colman, Alan Ladd, Marlene Dietrich, Joel McCrea, among many other's. Great Star.

The Talk of the Town is directed by George Stevens, who co-produces with Fred Guiol, and adapted by Dale Van Every, Irwin Shaw and Sidney Buchman from a story by Sidney Harmon. It stars Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Ronald Colman, Rex Ingram and Edgar Buchanan.Leopold Dilg (Grant), a radical and political thinking man, is accused of burning down a mill and causing the death of a foreman in the subsequent fire. On trial for his life, he decides to escape from jail and makes his way to the home of his school day friend Nora Shelley (Arthur). However, his timing couldn't be worse, for Nora has taken in a tenant for the summer, a law professor, Michael Lightcap (Colman). Passing him off as the gardener, Nora has to hope that Lightcap doesn't cop on to Dilg being an escaped prisoner. But with both men feeling each other out, and both having designs on Nora, something is going to have to give.Tho nominated in seven Academy Award categories, The Talk of the Town won none. Perhaps more surprisingly is that of those seven nominations, none were for acting or direction. Surprising because the film is impeccably acted and smoothly directed. It was, however, rightly nominated for Best Picture (it lost out to William Wyler's Mrs. Miniver) and was a big smash at the box office. Where the public quickly warmed to its blend of comedy with intelligent politico musings. The set up is safe, a potential love triangle, with the three leads playing off each other sublimely, is nicely played out whilst the two men partake in discussions about the law, its applications and its worth. While the comedy that comes in fits and starts, is not so much of the screwball variety, but more ebullience born out of beautifully written sequences. Some argue that the plot is heavily reliant on contrivances (how many 40s comedies aren't?), I say that is easily forgiven given the quality on show across the board. 8/10