ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
UK, 1960, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Yul Brynner, Kay Kendall, Geoffrey Toone, Maxwell Shaw, Mervyn Johns, Martin Benson, Gregory Ratoff.
Directed by Stanley Donen.
Once More With Feeling is a frothy romantic comedy - though sometimes it is rather sudsy rather than frothy. It was the last film for comedienne Kay Kendall (Genevieve, Les Girls, The Reluctant Debutante) and she gives a strong comic performance. A bothered Yul Brynner is the lead. Main support comes from former director Gregory Ratoff as the bothered agent.
The film has a musical setting - with some pleasant popular classics presented. It is also a romance of the '50s with emphasis on marriage break-up, divorce, reunion. The film was directed by Stanley Donen, best known for his musicals with Gene Kelly like On the Town and Singin' in the Rain. In the late '50s and early '60s he made a number of similar films to this, including Surprise Package, The Grass is Greener and then went on to such thrillers as Charade and Arabesque.
1. Entertaining romantic comedy? Of 1960?
2. London settings, colour photography, wide screen? Musical score - and the use of the classics?
3. The title - reference to music and conducting, harp-playing, marriage and romance?
4. Victor and Dolly, their rocky marriage, his egocentric behaviour, her love for him? His career, her career? The assistants, the agents? The pressures for finance? Tours? The world of music and celebrities?
5. Victor, the portraits of him all around his house? Conducting, treatment of the orchestra? Love for Dolly? The reliance on Max? Chester and his assistance? The clash with Victor, Dolly's walking out? Her being away for 18 months? The new fiance? Victor's contacting her? His wanting her back, his moodiness? The need for her playing, Mr Wilbur and his mother and the bequest? The farcical devices for regaining Dolly, having her in the house, Max, the fiance? Mr Wilbur and the ambiguities? His sacrificing himself finally for Dolly - and playing John Philip Souza? Yul Brynner and this kind of light farce?
6. Kay Kendall as Dolly, her relationship with Victor, love for him? Her career, playing the harp? Her wisecracks? The brittle marriage, her anger with Victor? Leaving, away in the country? Her new fiance? Caught with ambiguity, sleeping pills, bedrooms, pyjamas - the light farcical situations? Her eventual reunion with Victor?
7. Max, the agent, cajoling his clients, making arrangements, financial deals? Confidant? Chester as the assistant, helping Victor, conducting in his place?
8. Mr Wilbur and his mother, her commanding manner, his being subservient, the demands for the orchestra, the program? The possibility for scandal? Everything working out well - and the money being given for the orchestra?
9. The world of the theatre, performances, tours? Adulation? Portraits? The television interview and Victor's style? The poking fun at the world of celebrities?
