Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

mike48128 Today, it's an old movie with painted mattes and fake carnival, taxi and sleigh rides, but in it's day, it was a fresh, funny screwball comedy. You can feel the electricity that Lombard's persona generates, and her performance is what makes this worth your time. Yes, it has a fine cast but Lombard and Montgomery are in somewhat predicable territory, always with a clever twist. It is very clear that the Smith's have a "steamy" relationship, as they are just ending a "three-day binge" in their bedroom. He is a lawyer, and a little man comes into his office and informs him that his marriage license in invalid due to it being issued incorrectly. So, they break up after a terrific argument. She likes to throw things and break glass and furniture. Obviously, he has to court her again, but he does it very clumsily. He goes on a hilarious blind date at a "suave" night club. "Mrs. Smith" just happens to be there too. He takes her to their favorite Italian Restaurant which is now a seedy dive. (The cat sits on the table and won't even eat the food.) His law partner proposes to his now "unmarried spouse" and the guy ends up being a dull "Southern Gentleman" with no charisma. (His "drawl" is uneven and fades in and out.) She kisses him and there is no "spark". Finally, she ends up at a ski resort with a funny but uneven ending involving Mr. Smith faking frostbite and delirium. At the ski resort, he has a horrific fight with his "ex". Glass is broken and their "fiery" love prevails. She is literally "head over heels" and stuck in a pair of skis! Carole Lombard was adored by all and Hitchcock directed this film as a favor to her. Very funny but his "The Trouble with Harry" is even funnier.

Prismark10 There is a reason why Hitchcock was known as the Master of Suspense and not the Master of Romantic Comedy. This film is proof of this, his only romantic comedy which he directed on the behest of the star Carole Lombard. Hitchcock later admitted he did not really understand the characters so just followed the screenplay.Ann (Carole Lombard) and David Smith (Robert Montgomery) are a married couple in New York. He is a well to do lawyer but although the couple are in love they bicker a lot. One morning, Ann asks David if he would marry her again if he had it to do over again. He replies he would not even though he is very happy with her.Well would you believe it later that day David is informed by a state official that due to a mishap they were never legally married. However this leads to a series of misunderstandings that drive the couple apart and she goes to the arms of his law partner who ends up proposing to her.The trouble with the film is that it fails as a screwball comedy and becomes increasingly tedious as the movie progresses and the couple keep on arguing. Although David said he would not marry Ann again he the spends the entire time conniving her to marry her again while she plays hard to get.

oOoBarracuda The most surprising entry from the filmography of Alfred Hitchcock is his 1941 film, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Hitchcock claimed he made the film as a favor to lead actress Carole Lombard; Mr. & Mrs. Smith is the only screwball comedy the famous suspense director ever made. Starring along with Carole Lombard is Robert Montgomery; the pair plays a married couple who find out that their marriage is unofficial, and instead of going through the legal paperwork to make their union legal, they question each other and their feelings. Out of his element, Hitchcock put forth a classic comedy that oddly still feels like a Hitchcock film, a true treat for the serious fan as they wade through Hitch's body of work. Elite New York couple Ann Smith (Carole Lombard) and David Smith (Robert Montgomery) have enjoyed an affectionate, loving, wedded bliss for three years. After individual visits from their lawyers, however, they learn that a municipal technicality prevented their union from being legally recognized. What should be a simple fix, turns into a possible breakup for the couple as they start to wonder how much in love with each other they truly are. The day the couple was told of the technicality, David commented over breakfast that if he were to start his life over, he would never marry. Despite his love for his wife, David feels as though an immense amount of sacrifice of himself has taken place due to his marriage to his wife. That comment has stuck with Ann as she decides what to do about her defunct marriage to her husband. Ann decides that a separation is in order and she begins to live the life of a single woman, even re-adopting her maiden name. As Ann enjoys her new life and freedoms, David sets his sights to stop at nothing to win back the devotion of his wife. Winning back Ann's hand becomes much more difficult as she begins dating other men. As David becomes increasingly more disgruntled with life without his wife, he begins to realize that maybe he wouldn't remove his wife from his life if he had the chance to do it again.As a fan of classic cinema, I was both surprised and embarrassed to realize that this was the first film I had seen of classic star Carole Lombard. I was happy to change that status and finally see her of a film; I found Lombard's acting exceptional and engaging, and cannot wait to see more of her work. This film is a lot of fun with the slight nods to silent cinema it seems to employ. The ways in which Mr. & Mrs. Smith plays out like a silent film, prove to be a perfect match to the plot of men's and women's relationships of the 1940's. As Lombard gains independence, she enjoys life without her husband more, therefore illustrating the liberation of women in the 40's. Although Mr. & Mrs. Smith has a very Howard Hawks feel to it, it is also clear that there are many aspects recognizable as Hitchcock touches. For instance, this journey through Alfred Hitchcock's filmography, I have grown quite fond of the way in which the auteur films faces. That same unique way faces are filmed are present in this film and are fun to watch. Sure, the film is a comedy, therefore Hitchcock touches are few and far between, but the film doesn't feel foreign to fans of Hitchcock and one can see his touches in it throughout the film. Fans of Hitchcock must see this film, if for no other reason, just to see the famous suspense director trying his hand at comedy; although, if given a chance, one won't be disappointed with a Carole Lombard film, either.

AaronCapenBanner Alfred Hitchcock directed this comedy(unusual for him) that stars Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard as David & Ann Smith, who have been happily married for three years until they one day have an argument about their marriage, then(by one of those standard movie coincidences) learn that day that, because of a dispute between local and state jurisdictions, their marriage license is invalid, meaning they are no longer legally married! This causes them to separate for a time, dating other people, until they realize the obvious about each other... Despite the cast and director, this is a contrived and predictable film, and not especially funny, though well made. A trifle.