SITTING PRETTY

US, 1948, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Maureen O’ Hara, Robert Young, Clifton Webb, Richard Haydn.
Directed by Walter Lang.

Sitting Pretty is a classic comedy of the 40's, produced by 20th century Fox in their usual style, directed by Walter Lang who made similar films like The Jackpot Aad many musicals.

Maureen O’ Hara, a regular at Fox, is the attractive heroine with Robert Young as hero. The situation comedy and the poking fun at American suburbia still remains classic. Richard Haydn as an inquisitive gossip is particularly good.

However the main interest is the character of Lynn Belvedere played by Clitton Webb. Webb had been on stage but had returned to Hollywood in such. Dramatic films as Laura, The Razor's Edge. He turned to comedy in Sitting Pretty and for the next ten years or so made quite a number of comedies. There are the two Mr. Belvedere sequels: Mr. Belevederd Rings the Bell 1949 and Mr. Belevedere Goes to College 1951.

The film is enjoyable in itself but worth noting as a high point in Clifton Webb's career.

1. The film is considered a classic comedy of the forties. Why? Its impact now?

2. The conventions of the domestic comedy of the thirties and forties? Happy families, suburbia? The stars? The black and white photography? Dialogue, the brevity of the film? How well did they work together here?

3. How was the audience invited to identify with the people of Humming Bird Hill? The ordinary family and the harassment of the ordinary day, the children and their playing up (although lovable)? The picture of suburbia with the style of the houses, neighbours? The irony of the audience identifying and then suffering when Humming Bird Hill was exposed by Mr Belvedere?

4. The King family and the presentation of their domestic set-up, the detail of their ordinary life, the children?

5. The humour with the various helps being exasperated and leaving? The preparation and expectations for the coming of an assistant?

6. The screenplay's build-up of expectations about Lyn Belvedere? The audience, like the Kings, expecting a middle-aged woman? The humour of Clifton Webb's arrival and his presentation of himself as Mr Belvedere? Mr Belvedere taking command of the family and the film at his arrival?

7. The particular traits that Clifton Webb brought to his portrait of Mr Belvedere? His hating of children and his treatment of them especially with the porridge over the baby's head, discipline? His background and the humour of his having tried everything? The secret of what he did in his room and the Kings spying on him through the door, trees etc and his discovering them? His behaviour and the response of the suburb? People's curiosity especially Mr Appleton? His outings, the ambiguous situations with Tacy King? Dancing with her and the talking?

8. Mr Belvedere's presence and the gossip precipitating a breakdown of the King's marriage? The suspicions of Harry? Tacy and the child's illness and her returning home? The humour but showing the possibility of gossip making jealousy real?

9. Comment on the satiric portrayal of Mr. Appleton, his mother and their snooping, the dialogue given to these characters, the comeuppance they had when the book was published and they were satirized and their reaction?

10. The humour of the revelation of the novel, the sales, the suburban people wanting to see what page they were on, libel suits?

11. The humour of Mr Belvedere staying in control, his decision to stay?

12. The comic qualities of this film, its presentation of the American values and its support of them as well as its satire of them?