Skylark (1941)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Or, if you prefer, Comedy Lite, because 'Skylark" is only semi-funny. I can only guess Director Mark Sandrich didn't have a good feel for comedy as several scenes which could have been funny seemed forced and heavy-handed. A Leo McCarey or Mitchell Leisen could have gotten more mileage out of them, but, as is, "Skylark" is unsatisfying and leaves you feeling unfulfilled, like Lite beer or diet soda.Other reviews recount the plot, but just let me say that the main reason to watch this one is to watch several old pros give their all and try to make a mediocre picture better just by their presence. It belongs mainly to Claudette Colbert, who tries mightily and comes off the best of the principals. She is ably supported by Ray Milland and Brian Aherne, who also do their best. Walter Abel does not come off so well and is better in straight drama parts. And the old pop standard 'Skylark" is apparently not from this picture. I put my star rating in the heading as the website no longer includes them.

Familiar theme yet played to the hilt by Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland in this totally enjoyable film.Realizing that her husband's success in business is primary to him, Colbert runs off with an attorney played by an irascible Brian Aherne and he successfully is able to get her to divorce the Milland character.The rest of the film is devoted to Milland trying to woo her back. The scenes in the subway and at the musical theater are both quite funny.Binnie Barnes is terrific as the wife of Milland's boss; acting high society although her background is probably humble at best. She also has designs on Aherne.The scenes where Milland has lied to his wife about quitting his job are funny; that's until Barnes shows up and in front of Colbert, she fires him which proves he had lied to Colbert.

Lydia and Tony Kenyon (Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland) are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. Their relationship now contains about as much excitement as a straight line. Along comes Jim Blake (Brian Aherne), providing a point of conflict that defines a love triangle. This is not a drama. The story comes from a play and its comedy is probably best appreciated if seen as Shakespearean. Blake is a passive-aggressive "Puck" who constantly picks at the relationship's frayed edges. A marriage is in the balance, but the characters banter wittily as if discussing the correct price for a cow. Lydia and Tony could have been played by Myrna Loy and William Powell. The writing is clever and enjoyable. The characters are fun to watch. If you can let the story just be what it is, you might enjoy it. Suspend disbelief and engage your sense of humor. Otherwise, you might be tempted to think this film makes light of wifely dissatisfaction.

Claudette Colbert has long been, for me, the actress that could do no wrong. I never saw her in a film that I didn't like. Until tonight.It's not that the acting here is bad. It's fine. It's the plot that smells to high heaven. We have Colbert's character -- the wife -- who is so disgusted with her husband's selfish focus on his career that she urges him to quit, even though that will leave them with no income to support their relatively wealthy life style. We have Ray Milland's character -- the husband -- who will tell any lie and commit any decent to get his wife back. And then, he stalks her even after the divorce. Ironically, the one fairly nice character in the film is Brian Aherne -- the other man. And in the end, Colbert goes back to her lying, deceitful husband.This movie could have been saved by simply rewriting about 5 scenes and turning it into a drama, rather than a misguided comedy.As mentioned, the acting here is fine. Claudette Colbert is fine as the wife, although I would hardly see this as one of her finer films. It's hard to root for her because her character is such a sap.Ray Milland is fine as the lying, deceitful husband. But no way you can root for him. I rather liked Brian Aherne here, and usually he is not one of my favorites. Walter Abel is along as the best friend, and plays that role well...as he always did.Sorry Claudette, I give this film a big thumbs down. How sad that you allowed yourself to be put in a film that is so demeaning toward women.