MR AND MRS SMITH

US, 1941, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery, Gene Raymond, Jack Carson, Philip Merivale, Lucile Watson, William Tracy.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Mr and Mrs Smith was Alfred Hitchcock's second film in the United States. He made Rebecca, which was successful, and then went on to Foreign Correspondent and Suspicion. The screenplay is written by Norman Krasna from his play. Krasna was the author of such films as the Cary Grant/Ingrid Bergman Indiscreet. It is in the tradition of the screwball romantic comedies of the '30s. Hitchcock said he did it as a favour to Carole Lombard, the star. He also said he didn't understand the characters presented and so filmed the screenplay as it was written. However, there are quite a number of humorous touches which might be compared to the comic sequences in his thrillers.

Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard are quite good, if somewhat cold in their roles. They do have some very humorous mime sequences. The dialogue is quite funny. It's very old-fashioned now but compares favourably enough with some of the more sparkling examples of the genre. It is certainly interesting as an aside in Hitchcock's career. Carole Lombard was to be killed in an accident soon after.

1. The appeal of the screwball comedy, the traditions of the '30s and '40s? The nature of the plot, marriage, farce. mistakes, the battle of the sexes? Enjoyable in its time, now?

2. What did Alfred Hitchcock bring to this film? His thriller tradition? The light and humorous touch of his English thrillers? His statement that he filmed the screenplay directly? His understanding of the characters - or not? An Englishman working within very American traditions and with comedy?

3. The technical aspects: studio sets, the musical score. the stars. the repartee and the situations?

4. The title, the couple as representative of Mr. and Mrs. America? Symbolic of the everyman and everywoman theme? The man-woman relationships, the roles of husband and wife, sex comedy? American comedy? The matching of the couple, the ambiguity in their relationships, the farce and the games they played? The tone as regards marriage and sexuality from Hitchcock, from the 1940s?

5. The changes of moods, audience expectations of the battle, the ironies and the jokes?

6. The atmosphere of the opening with David and Ann in the hotel, the puzzle? The comments of the servants, at the office? The making up and the implications about the fights? Ann and her rules and the effect on David? The setting up of the question about marrying if they had the opportunity again? The humour of the visit of the lawyer and the information to David and how he handled it., to Ann and her mother? The ambiguity and concealment? The options? The fact that Ann chose not to remarry after her disappointment? The comic sequence at Momma Lucy's? Her mother's phone calls? The eventual clash? The effect on David and his going to the club,. the discussions in the sauna with Benson? His following his wife? The visits to the apartment? Ann and her work. her outings with the boss? The taxi sequences? The outing in the restaurant? The comic ambiguities? The particular items for humour, the nosebleed, the dates and the sauna?

7. How well presented the characters, ordinary people, the comic tones, who was dominant? Audience identification and interest? The romantic point of view about marriage?

8. Jeff - as partner, lawyer, supporting Ann, romantically involved, the sequence in the restaurant, the visit of his parents to the office and the discussions, making a good impression of Ann, taking Ann to the lodge, the fights, his parents' second arrival? The gentleman but considered weak? Southern fried chicken? The conventional 'other man' with comic overtones?

9. Ann's mother and her fears, panic? Jeff’s parents and their judgments, moral attitudes?

10. The humour of the farce and mix-ups? Audience enjoyment of farce and mistaken identities?

11. The contribution of the comedy? Ann shaving David, David in the restaurant pretending to talk to his neighbour, punching his nose to make it bleed, his pretending to be ill, Ann pretending that she was in love with Jeff?

12. The attitude of the screenplay towards marriage, sexuality? The light touch and the point made via humour?