Unfaithfully Yours (1948)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release: December 10, 1948
DVD Release: March 1, 2013
Director: Preston Sturges
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Considered by many to be Preston Sturges best film, Unfaithfully Yours is a movie ahead of its time. With its fast paced snarky dialog to its over the top slapstick sight gags to its suddenly dark comedic overtones, its surprising that film goers in 1948 enjoyed a film like this. Unfaithfully Yours is not like most films made at this time and certainly much different than previous films directed by Sturges.
Rex Harrison stars as Sir Alfred De Carter, an English high strung orchestra conductor whose witty sarcastic comments seem to spew out of his mouth at 100 mph. The one thing that can put a smile on his face is his lovely American wife Daphne who seems to be able to keep him mellow when times get extreme. The one person who can get under his skin is his mousy brother-in-law August who tells Alfred that while he was away the following week, he had Alfred's wife tailed by a private investigator. Furious, Alfred demands an explanation which August gives as in he was told to keep an eye on her by Alfred himself. Refusing to believe anything August says, Alfred journey's out to confront the private investigator who just happens to be a huge fan of Alfred's. Alfred is given the sad news that his wife was seen one night in her nightgown, walking inside a strange man's hotel room. Upset and distraught, Alfred leaves quietly.
Before his big performance, Alfred is cold and mean to Daphne without her understanding why. He even goes about in ripping her evening dress. While he is conducting, Alfred begins to come up with ideas on how to handle the situation with his wife, one is even killing her! After the show is over, Alfred tries to carry out some of these ideas but all come crashing down on him until he finds out the truth about what exactly happened.
Unfaithfully Yours stands the test of time as a screwball comedy is still actually very funny. Harrison is born to play this part and his comments and jokes at other people's expense had me in stitches. The rest of the cast is just as funny and almost carry the film on its own when Harrison isn't on screen. I loved August's bizarre relationship to Alfred's sister, who belittles him every chance she gets. Even when she is leaving a room, she calls out to him sweetly, "Come along, stupid."
Sturges was also a master in some of his camera angles and movements. I love his slow zoom on Alfred as he is conducting where the camera starts from far away and slowly goes all the way into his eyeball. I especially love that during some of the more darker moments how the film seems to shift tone and look like a film noir or murder mystery but still maintaining its comedy. It's been awhile since I have seen the 1984 remake Unfaithfully Yours with Dudley Moore, but I don't remember that film being even remotely as interesting or as well directed as the original.
20th Century Fox's Cinema Archives DVD doesn't contain any special features but the picture quality looks good and aside from a 10 second sound drop out within the first 30 minutes of the film, the dialog can be heard clearly.
[Rating: 4]
Theatrical Release: December 10, 1948
DVD Release: March 1, 2013
Director: Preston Sturges
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Considered by many to be Preston Sturges best film, Unfaithfully Yours is a movie ahead of its time. With its fast paced snarky dialog to its over the top slapstick sight gags to its suddenly dark comedic overtones, its surprising that film goers in 1948 enjoyed a film like this. Unfaithfully Yours is not like most films made at this time and certainly much different than previous films directed by Sturges.
Rex Harrison stars as Sir Alfred De Carter, an English high strung orchestra conductor whose witty sarcastic comments seem to spew out of his mouth at 100 mph. The one thing that can put a smile on his face is his lovely American wife Daphne who seems to be able to keep him mellow when times get extreme. The one person who can get under his skin is his mousy brother-in-law August who tells Alfred that while he was away the following week, he had Alfred's wife tailed by a private investigator. Furious, Alfred demands an explanation which August gives as in he was told to keep an eye on her by Alfred himself. Refusing to believe anything August says, Alfred journey's out to confront the private investigator who just happens to be a huge fan of Alfred's. Alfred is given the sad news that his wife was seen one night in her nightgown, walking inside a strange man's hotel room. Upset and distraught, Alfred leaves quietly.
Before his big performance, Alfred is cold and mean to Daphne without her understanding why. He even goes about in ripping her evening dress. While he is conducting, Alfred begins to come up with ideas on how to handle the situation with his wife, one is even killing her! After the show is over, Alfred tries to carry out some of these ideas but all come crashing down on him until he finds out the truth about what exactly happened.
Unfaithfully Yours stands the test of time as a screwball comedy is still actually very funny. Harrison is born to play this part and his comments and jokes at other people's expense had me in stitches. The rest of the cast is just as funny and almost carry the film on its own when Harrison isn't on screen. I loved August's bizarre relationship to Alfred's sister, who belittles him every chance she gets. Even when she is leaving a room, she calls out to him sweetly, "Come along, stupid."
Sturges was also a master in some of his camera angles and movements. I love his slow zoom on Alfred as he is conducting where the camera starts from far away and slowly goes all the way into his eyeball. I especially love that during some of the more darker moments how the film seems to shift tone and look like a film noir or murder mystery but still maintaining its comedy. It's been awhile since I have seen the 1984 remake Unfaithfully Yours with Dudley Moore, but I don't remember that film being even remotely as interesting or as well directed as the original.
20th Century Fox's Cinema Archives DVD doesn't contain any special features but the picture quality looks good and aside from a 10 second sound drop out within the first 30 minutes of the film, the dialog can be heard clearly.
[Rating: 4]
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