"Well, she's... changed a little."
"She once chased a dogcatcher half a mile with a baseball bat."
"Well, she hasn't changed as much as you think."
David (Montgomery) and Ann (Lombard) Smith have been happily married for three years. Over the years they created rules to help continue their happiness, such as not leaving the bedroom after a fight until everything is resolved (even if that means staying there for 8 weeks). After one fight, David admits he probably wouldn't marry Ann again if he had the chance. Later, when they learn that are not legally married Ann throws him out of the house when he does not immediately re-propose.
David vows to win her back... but it is no easy task. His best friend and business partner, Jeff Custer (Raymond), carries a torch for Ann, and decides to use the opportunity to pursue her. Another friend, Chuck (Carson), who is in the doghouse with his wife, tries to help David... but ends up getting David in even more trouble.
And then the Master of Suspense made a Romantic Comedy.... For his third American film, Hitchcock was coerced into trying his hand at screwball comedies, for a chance to work with Carole Lombard. It's a little weird to see a Hitchcock comedy... all of his films have moments of humor, I missed the suspense.
I'm glad Hitchcock only delved into straight-up comedy once... his suspense films are much better. Maybe my expectations were too high going into this film, but I was really underwhelmed. There were good moments, but I didn't like Robert Montgomery's David - he was more of a jerk than anything else. Carole Lombard did better, making Ann somewhat sympathetic and pretty funny. I think Lombard and Cary Grant (Hitchcock's original choice according to IMDb.com) would have been a better pairing.
It was o.k. - but I was expecting awesome, so it was disappointing.
David vows to win her back... but it is no easy task. His best friend and business partner, Jeff Custer (Raymond), carries a torch for Ann, and decides to use the opportunity to pursue her. Another friend, Chuck (Carson), who is in the doghouse with his wife, tries to help David... but ends up getting David in even more trouble.
And then the Master of Suspense made a Romantic Comedy.... For his third American film, Hitchcock was coerced into trying his hand at screwball comedies, for a chance to work with Carole Lombard. It's a little weird to see a Hitchcock comedy... all of his films have moments of humor, I missed the suspense.
I'm glad Hitchcock only delved into straight-up comedy once... his suspense films are much better. Maybe my expectations were too high going into this film, but I was really underwhelmed. There were good moments, but I didn't like Robert Montgomery's David - he was more of a jerk than anything else. Carole Lombard did better, making Ann somewhat sympathetic and pretty funny. I think Lombard and Cary Grant (Hitchcock's original choice according to IMDb.com) would have been a better pairing.
It was o.k. - but I was expecting awesome, so it was disappointing.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) 95 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Carole Lombard as Ann Smith
Robert Montgomery as David Smith
Gene Raymond as Jeff Custer
Jack Carson as Chuck
Jack Carson as Chuck
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