The Grass Is Greener (1960)

Touches You

Sadly Over-hyped

Powerful

Beautiful, moving film.

With a cast boasting Cary Grant, Robert Mitchum, Deborah Kerr AND Jean Simmons, you would expect a real treat, right? Wrong. This one is a fizzer, and utterly boring. If it wasn't for the obvious chemistry of Mitchum and Kerr (why aren't these two more recognised as one of the greatest screen teams ever), even in roles where they flounder, and Jean Simmons saving the second half single-handedly from being even worse, I would have fallen asleep. It's very English, and perhaps as an Aussie I don't "get" the humour. It's meant to be a witty take on marriage and the upper classes. There were a few nice lines, mostly delivered by Simmons, but other than that it was just a pointless talk-fest. Grant is usually one of the most watchable of all screen stars, but here he's barely noticeable. Perhaps he is keeping in character, but he just exhibits no personality here. The opening titles are cute, but what relevance do they have to anything in the film? Yeah, I pretty much hated it.

An all-star cast just about manages to give this flimsy, unlikely comedy a lift though why the likes of Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons ever agreed to do it is something of a mystery. It's based on a play by Hugh and Margaret Williams and it's all very sub-Noel Coward, (his song 'The Stately Homes of England' is used on the soundtrack).Grant and Kerr are the lord and lady of the manor and Mitchum, the rich American who sweeps Kerr off her feet five minutes after meeting her. Simmons is the scatty friend and she's wonderful, (it's a great supporting part). Grant is magnificent. It's a great, understated performance and he's far, far too good for the material. It's not unlike the martial comedies he made in the thirties but at least they were American and funny; this is terribly British and isn't in the least funny. On the other hand, it is very stylishly directed by Stanley Donen, though again I have the foggiest idea why he would want to make it in the first place.

Hugh and Margaret Williams turned out several successful stage comedies in the 1950s almost, as it were, in defiance of the Angry Young Man school that had all but decimated the breed and this was one of the more successful. Three of the principals had and/or would co-star several times as in Grant-Kerr (An Affair To Remember), Mitchum-Kerr (Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison, The Sundowners) so were thoroughly at home with each other and Jean Simmons had no trouble fitting in as the gooseberry. A definite bonus is the background music, what amounts to an extended medley of Noel Coward favourites from Sigh No More, to I'll Follow My Secret Heart to Poor Little Rich Girl to Dance, Little Lady etc and for good measure The Stately Homes Of England is sung over both front and end credits. Essentially tourist Mitchum turns up to scratch a ten-tear itch that Kerr was unaware of, hardly surprising when hubby is Cary Grant. This paves the way for some sophisticated banter, anti-American jokes before it all ends happily. Even almost sixty years later there is still a large dollop of charm clinging tenaciously. Catch it if you can.

Being a huge Deborah Kerr fan and a minor Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons fan I looked very much forward to watching this movie. My expectations were not disappointed! I had a lot of fun! The great dialogs as well as the actors managed to crack me up several times. Cary Grant is perfect typecasting. He has to deal with his beloved wife's infidelity. Mitchum and Kerr are rather unusual compared to their previous roles. He is very charming and straight-forward. When he sees something he wants, he takes it. She is truly funny! They have a great chemistry and you can tell that they were good friends in real life. But pay also special attention to Jean Simmons as the gin-drinking, all-knowing Hattie. She is hilarious! All together , the movie is great fun! Very British and very 50s/60s!