Once More, My Darling

This movie had a plot of having a good screwball comedy. The selection of the stars was a I felt a bit wanting. Robert was (he was about 45 and looked so too) looked to be a bit too old for Ann. She was only 21, and on screen 19, and her personality suited the role, of a scatter-brained teenager (she did quite a few roles of this type, and successfully too). But probbaly he wanted it to be his vehicle (he was the director to this movie too), though not on the screenplay team for this movie, I wonder, why didn't Joan Harrison interfere ?

The movie was quite good, and without much hiccups for about one hour (which is two third of the movie), but the moment the two eloped, it (the movie) simply went to pieces and even till the end, they couldn't or may be didn't want to, gather them back.

To her credit, Ann did try to keep the things to some order, and was quite convincing as the scatter-brained teenager. I would rather say she lived in the imaginary world of pulp-romantic-novels, which in real life too some do, and with her personality, she could very successfully live it, without being an eyesore, and I said, while the scene was her, she did it.

But who disappointed (after the hour mark), was Robert, both as actor, but more so as director. One who had been put in sleuth job, can't be that idiot. In fact the movie had simply degenerated into a pulp from there. Whether the sequence of forcing a clearly uninterested stranger, into a police agent, the police party, clearly looking for them, missing the parked car in broad day light, and that too three times ? Or they having put only one 'Police Marker' for the 300 miles journey? What if they had been ambushed on the way? Which would have been the intelligent thing to do. Or the cycle overtaking the car (lifted from Katharina, Die Letzte , there it was necessary, and was justified by situation) ? Why didn't the heist-man shoot the prone and perfect target, hero in the first place? How the police, who were supposed to be on hot trail, and that too the MP, reach the site after not only everything is over, but also two other parties have traced to rescue/ save the girl from the lecherous hero, and many such sequences. All these were in fact not necessary, and with minor thought, movie would have reached the same conclusion, without becoming an eyesore.

Only for the sake of Ann Blyth, one can watch it, she looked quite charming as the almost-child "Killer" role, else,...

I was surprised, "Once More, My Darling", had not generated enough votes (at this writing) for a "user rating". It's a "screwy" comedy I have enjoyed many times over the years. Robert Montgomery's mission places him in some very improbable situations, and he's just the man for the job. He maintains his trademark "befuddled" look throughout the film and hysterically, too. Ann Blyth plays his precocious/eccentric pursuer, who assumes a relationship that does not exist. Her character is kooky enough to warrant the unearned nickname "Killer", but remains cute and cuddly.

Among the glut of "B" movies from the late 1940's and 1950's, "Once More, My Darling" is a standout. This one is worth looking for....

After the turning point of NIGHT MUST FALL, Robert Montgomery (for the most time) came into his finest films and performances: HERE COMES MR. JORDAN, THEY WERE EXPENDABLE, THE LADY IN THE LAKE, RIDE THE PINK HORSE, THE SAXON CHARM, JUNE BRIDE. Even some of the failures he was in were interesting enough to be still watchable (RAGE IN HEAVEN, MR. AND MRS. SMITH). But Montgomery wanted to do more and more production and directing work. In 1949 he made what would be his last movie performance - he played Collier Lang, an egotistical movie star, who is dragged into helping the authorities do an investigation about a young girl's boyfriend.

Apparently my view of this film is a minority view. Most of the views given are favorable about it. I thought it was a dull, witless script, with Ann Blyth's groupie heroine not very appealing as a character. She admires Montgomery as a star, and this "helps" when he is called in to assist the authorities, but after awhile I found there was no chemistry between them. The script was also devoid of much fun, although Montgomery and Roland Winters did try. The only thing I recall to this day as a joke point was that Taylor Holmes is the wealthy father of Blyth, and he is an admirer of Winston Churchill. So he always dresses up as Churchill, and we see him wearing a floppy broad brimmed hat, smoking a large cigar, and painting (Holmes' bald head helps in the disguise). That was the most memorable joke from this film - not much of a real memory.

Montgomery went into early television, and finally won the attention and respect he always had deserved in motion pictures. His last contact with the movies was his direction of THE GALLANT HOURS about Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, starring his friend Jimmy Cagney. It is a far better film than this. For his overall film and television career, I will give this mediocre film a "4". That strikes me as generous.

Engaging comedy with a rather nutty premise but the skillful playing of the cast make it work. Ann Blyth embraces her inner ditz as the bubbly, forward teen who is instantly smitten with Montgomery on sight. Montgomery, one of the best light comedians of Golden Age Hollywood, carries the film right along with an air of deer in the headlights helplessness at the onslaught of ardor that Ann's character unleashes his way. Theatre great Jane Cowl is also highly amusing in one of only four film appearance's as Bob's mother.

One small drawback. Montgomery is a perfect choice for the breeziness necessary to make his character work but he was 45 at the time this was made and looks it, whereas Ann Blyth was 24 playing 19 and is convincing as such making their pairing a bit off. They would have been better paired as a father and daughter at this point. Be that as it may this is still a pleasant little known film.

Ann Blyth showcases her fine comedic sense in this warm, often zany film. Nicknamed "Killer," her character is fond of "Passionelle," a perfume which she practically bathes in, and Robert Montgomery, in the role of "Collie," whose mission is to bust her estranged boyfriend for jewel smuggling. One highlight is when Montgomery, a momma's boy, introduces Killer to his mother and friends. Blyth masterfully mines this scene for its full comic worth. "Once More, My Darling" is one gem of a movie with a great slapstick ending.