UNFAITHFULLY YOURS
US, 1948, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Barbara Lawrence, Rudy Vallee, Kurt Kreuger, Lionel Stander.
Directed by Preston Sturges.
Unfaithfully Yours is an amusing black comedy. It was written, produced and directed by Preston Sturges, a screenwriter in the 30s who emerged as a successful writer-director in the early '40s with such classics as The Palm Beach Story, Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Hail the Conquering Hero.
The film is a fantasy, a fable about jealousy as a famous conductor suspects his wife of infidelity and plans her murder while conducting classics by Tchaikovsky, Wagner. Rex Harrison, who had emerged as a successful star in Britain, was becoming an international star at this period (Anna and the King of Siam, The Foxes of Harrow). Linda Darnell is the beautiful heroine. There are amusing supporting roles for Lionel Stander, Rudy Vallee and Barbara Lawrence.
The film was remade as a Dudley Moore vehicle in the '80s, directed by Howard Zieff, with Nastassia Kinski and Armand Assante. Richard Libertini is more amusing than Lionel Stander in the equivalent role.
1. An amusing comedy? Reputation? Remake?
2. The work of Preston Sturges, his sardonic wit, polish? His skills as writer, director?
3. Black and white photography, the range of classical music and its incorporation into the plot? Domestic comedy? Satire on society? Fantasy and comic reality?
4. The music, Alfred as conductor, the music as played, as background to the plots, as inspiring Alfred in his work as a conductor?
5. The structure of the film: reality, fantasy, comic reality once again?
6. Situations and character: contrived, credible? The plane and its delay, waiting, reuniting of husband and wife, August and Barbara in the background, Hugo, Tony, Daphne and her devotion? The basis for subsequent twists?
7. Rex Harrison as Alfred: English, titled, musical genius, rehearsals? The Englishman in the United States? British style, vocabulary? His love for Daphne, infatuation, spoiling her the clothes? Hugo and his help? Tony and his assistance? August and his sneering? The detective's report? The clash with August, tearing up the report, booting it out, trying to burn it? The visit to Sweeney (and the humour of the talk with the neighbouring tailor)? Suspicions, the effect? The visit to the cinema and watching the film about the dog as a man's best friend? His harshness, hurting Daphne? Conducting, imagination: the planned murder: setting up the recording, slashing Daphne's throat and framing Tony, the court case, the 'guilty' verdict, his execution? The contrast with the second fantasy and his tenderness, forgiving her, writing the cheque? The third fantasy and Russian Roulette, explaining it to Daphne and the irony of his death? His behaviour between the pieces? His hurry away from the concert, the return home? The slapstick contrast with his fantasies? The mess of the apartment, not finding the recorder? Daphne and her anger, her attitude towards Tony? The revelation of the truth, their being reunited? A humorous portrait of jealousy? Imagination and insinuation taking over?
8. Daphne and her beauty, love for Alfred, faithfulness, not wanting the clothes, supporting him, being hurt - the scene with the zip, at the concert, her different images in his fantasies, the contrast with reality?
9. August and his pomposity, the detective? Barbara and her sneering, relationship with Tony?
10. Tony as pleasant, the relationship with Barbara - and his place in the fantasies as Alfred's victim?
11. Hugo and his help, ironic remarks, type?
12. Sweeney and his love for Alfred's music? The tailor on his lunch hour and the discussion with Alfred? Their going to the concert, the tailor's over-applause?
13. Verbal wit, visual humour? Timing and detail - especially with the wrecking of the room?
14. '40s sophisticated stylish comedy?
