whataboutbobbed
caught my first set of Hitchcocks at Film Forum’s ‘Complete’ film series last night, which paired one of his British films with a Hollywood one, where well off couples have their love lives fall apart, only to realize they couldn’t live life without their lovers
1931’s Rich and Strange had its moments, but overall, it didn’t really pack that much oomph, comedic or even storywise. Most of the fun is had by watching the unfun encountered by Henry Kendall, and his adorable wife Joan Barry. They make a lovely couple. Sadly it didn’t make for a lovely movie
1941’s Mr & Mrs Smith (yes, the real one) fared much better, and is easily the funniest Hitchcock film I’ve ever seen. The sparring partners here are Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard, who throw nothing but sharp strikes at each other in this screwball comedy. Because it was one of Hitch’s only straight-up comedies, it gets lost in the shuffle of Hitchcock’s early Hollywood career output. You stack it against the likes Rebecca and Shadow of A Doubt, it’s not even going to compare. But when you compare it to say, Lombard’s My Man Godfrey, Hitchcock hits the mark purty darn close. An under-appreciated lil comedic gem, worth having a laugh over!