THAT WONDERFUL URGE
US, 1948, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Gene Tierney, Tyrone Power, Reginald Gardiner, Arleen Whelan, Lucile Watson, Gene Lockhart, Porter Hall.
Directed by Robert B. Sinclair.
That Wonderful Urge is a pleasant inconsequential romantic comedy. It is in the vein of the comedies of the '30s - though a bit more seriously taken in the mid-'40s. Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney were more at home in dramas and action adventures but do their best in this romantic farce and mistaken situation comedy. It illustrates the perennial appeal of this kind of material.
1. An entertaining comedy? Its place in the tradition of screwball comedies of the ' 30s and later romantic comedies? Its appeal today, dated?
2. The conventions of the genre - the establishing of the hero and mysterious identity, the heroine and her wealth, her suitors? The confrontations, the farcical situations - e.g. prison, the battle of the sexes, romance and marriage? The settling of differences for a happy ending? How well were these conventions? How particularly American?
3. Black and white photography, the world of affluence, newspapers, courts, prisons? The musical score?
4. How plausible the plots of the screwball comedies? Sufficient for the purposes of the battle of the sexes and for romance? Audience accepting the contrivances of the plot?
5. Tyrone Power as romantic comedy hero? His being introduced as Tommy Thomas, the revelation that he was the author of the articles attacking Sarah Farley? His interviewing her and her attraction towards him? His making mistakes in withdrawing his article, the clash with Sarah, her contriving the engagement to him, the lengths that he went to to get out of the engagement, his relationship with his editor, with his girlfriend? His decision to take the challenge seriously -the taking of the food from the supermarket etc.? Establishing himself in the house? The way that this was used in evidence against him? His trying to get out of the marriage, chasing Sarah, his behaviour at the party, their time in prison? The gradual attraction towards each other? The decisions about the separations and the divorce - the telling of the truth? The happy ending? An American romantic hero?
6. Gene Tierney's style as romantic heroine? Her wealth, isolation from people, her suitors especially Andre and his attentions? Her attractions towards Tommy? Her telling her story in the cabin? The decision to pretend that there was a marriage, her taking advantage of the situation, her not being able to handle his manoeuvres, especially his presence in the house? Her disclaimers, her winning the rounds in the prison cell? Her continued attacks, the divorce proceedings, her hostility, her love? The battle of the sexes?
7. The contribution of the minor characters - Andre and his continued attentions, the newspaper editor? Tom's girlfriend?
8. The stock situations and their enjoyment even despite their predictability: the initial interview, their being snowbound and discussing Sarah's life, the farcical aspects of proving the marriage and disproving it, the prison night and the attitude of the judge, the law court sequences etc.?
9. The perennial themes of the battle of the sexes, true love and romance, wealth, reputation, the telling of the truth?
