Friday, March 13, 2009
SUAVE
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was Ernst Lubitch's
Con-men, thieves and pickpockets all pose as dandies in this fast paced comedy. Herbert Marshall triangles with Miriam Hopkins and Kay Francis. Produced before the dread Code was in place, there are plenty of double meanings for the audience to savor. Some more explicit than others.
There are even a potential gay couple in the mix, the faux British Edward Everett Horton and Charles Ruggles.
There is never a dull moment and the audience is treated as adult not only in the matters of sex but in being smart enough not to need every gag underlined and repeated to a dull tedium. The hallmark of many comedies today.
It was fun to see this classic. It was Lubitch's first non-musical and he went on to create many more great comedies most of which are "Bests".
The DVD has an introduction by Peter Bogdanovitch which is worthwhile although it tips off a bit of the film. Maybe see it after.
I will give this a 3 out of Netflix5.
Labels: best films
