THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING

US, 1941, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Merle Oberon, Melvyn Douglas, Burgess Meredith, Harry Davenport, Eve Arden, Sig Ruman, Alan Mowbray.
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch.

That Uncertain Feeling is a comedy of the early 1940s, in the vein of the 1930s screwball comedy with its madcap situations and characters, but also with Ernst Lubitsch is rather more elegant filmmaking – Trouble in Paradise, The Merry Widow, Ninotchka.

The film is based on a play with a screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart, Oscar-winner for The Philadelphia Story. The story is amusing rather than funny Though it does have touches of satire, about modern art, about self-centred pianists, about career-occupied financiers.

The film is a star vehicle for Merle Oberon who had appeared in many British films in the 1930s including Wuthering Heights. Her career in the 1940s was in American films such as Lydia. Melvyn Douglas had appeared in many similar films in the 1930s and was to go on to serious roles as the aged, winning Oscars for both Hud and for Being There. Burgess Meredith turns in an odd character, an eccentric pianist, self-absorbed but intrigued with Merle Oberon.

Slight, but entertaining in the 1940s kind of way.

1. The tradition of the screwball comedy, more sedate in the 1940s? Drama, comedy, satiric touches?

2. Black and white photography, production values, the city, apartments, doctors waiting rooms…? Realism as well as the satiric tone? The musical score?

3. The credibility of the situation, the six years of marriage, Larry and his focus on his work, Jill and her hiccups, the tension in her marriage and in her life, confiding in friends, going to the doctor?

4. Jill, Merle Oberon and her glamour, costumes, demeanour, her marriage, Larry’s seeming indifference, her response? The hiccups, and the doctor? The tensions in her life? Going home, the plan for the Hungarian dinner, the Hungarian word? Larry preoccupied with his work and insurance premiums?

5. Larry, Melvyn Douglas comic style, busy, seemingly indifferent, taking his marriage for granted? His plan for the dinner and the contracts? The words, the menu, the goulash?

6. Jill at the doctor’s office, the encounter with Andrew Sebastien, his eccentric manner, talking, the magazines, confiding, finding Jill’s photo, her happiness, his criticism? The arguments, her curiosity, wanting him to go? His taking her to the gallery, the modern paintings and his comments, his portrait and his explanation of the symbols? Getting a copy?

7. The Hungarian party, Sebastien turning up, his behaviour at the table, what he could eat or not, playing the piano? The meal, the Hungarian word, the enthusiasm of the guests, the guest of honour, his manner, his response to the dinner? Sebastien interrupting the discussion of the contract? Failing?

8. Sebastien and Jill, their time together, her falling out of love? Sebastien’s presumptions? At home, his continued playing the piano, Margie and her visit, the last straw for Jill? His leaving the house?

9. Larry, the reverse psychology, moving out of the house, seeming to agree with Jill, going to the apartment?

10. The divorce, with Mr Jones, with Sally, the contrived argument and Larry fluffing his lines, needing to slap Jill, finally doing so? The setup for the divorce? Jill walking out?

11. Larry and his going out with Sally, his pretending she was in the apartment, her arrival, the fact that there was a business meeting? Jill going along with
the pretence?

12. The reconciliation, the marriage and love reviving?

13. A pleasant comedy, in the style of the 1940s?