Tay Garnett probably deserved greater status among directors after directing the 1941 version of THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, but if I were to choose a favorite among his films, LOVE IS NEWS would be it.
This light, quasi screwball comedy, has wonderful moments thanks to a sharp yet always humorous script from the Tugend and Yellen duo, and the mostly interior cinematography by Ernest Palmer certainly deserves praise for its effectiveness.
However, Tyrone Power and Loretta Young are the real cherries on this cake: both beautiful and charismatic, sharing strong chemistry, they command the screen (Loretta lamentably only appears after 10'... but when she does, sheer glory!)
They are ably supported by Don Ameche as Tyrone's newspaper chief, who either fires or rehires him, raising his salary every time he changes his mind. Slim Summerville delivers a small but memorable part as the judge cum warden of a jail whose doors keep falling. However, it is the great George Sanders who stays with me, gracefully handling an unenviable part as an European aristocratic gold digger trying to get his hooks on famously wealthy Loretta's millions, and resorting to subtle blackmail, other underhand and illegal tricks along the way, but showing that he is a good loser when his greed prevents him landing similarly well-off Pauline Moore.
At 77' minutes long, I was sorry to see it end. LOVE IS NEWS far surpasses its 1948 remake, also with Tyrone Power, entitled THAT WONDERFUL URGE. 9/10.
