One of a series of underperforming films that helped drive Alex Korda back to the verge bankruptcy (eg Bonnie Prince Charlie). It looks sumptuous with colour photography and elaborate sets and costumes – needlessly so, really, they over did it. I didn’t mind the ball rooms and such but every drawing room and bedroom looks like a tacky museum – it’s ridiculous.
The other big debit are the characters of the politician and his wife – they’re prim on the page but the playing here (Hugh Williams and Diana Wynyard) is so humorless and dull; they’ve cast unattractive actors too - why not have a few spunks? Especially the priggish wife – why not make her beautiful? Because the point is that the playboy lord (Michael Wilding, excellent) loves her - but it doesn't really come across here.
It's a shame because the rest of this is fine - Wilding tosses off the lines with aplomb, Glynis Johns is good ingenue value, Paulette Goddard wasn't the best actor in the world but could be engaging and is ideally cast. And the story and one liners are solid.
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