Not an Ideal Movie
I've got a double feature this weekend, with one review to be posted today and the other tomorrow. First up; the 1947 version of An Ideal Husband.
As has been well-established by now, I can be easily lured into watching a movie on the promise of pretty period piece costumes. Such was the case with the 1947 version of An Ideal Husband, though at least this one also had potential because it was based on a play by Oscar Wilde, which made me hope we’d get some witty dialogue too. I wasn’t disappointed on the costume front, but the story and dialogue were another matter.
The story centers around a married couple, Robert and Gertrude Chiltern (Hugh Williams and Diana Wynyard), who care deeply for each other. In fact, Gertrude considers him pretty much to be perfect in every way. But no one is perfect, as is evidenced when the beautiful, seductive, and socially grasping Laura Cheveley (Paulette Goddard) shows up to a party they’re throwing, takes Robert aside, and blackmails him. Since Robert’s a member of Parliament, she wants him to allow a project that’s just a financial scam to go through, or she’ll release an incriminating letter from his past. Robert doesn’t want to give in to the demands, but he fears what his wife will think, not to mention what this will mean for his career. Fortunately, Robert has a friend, Arthur Goring (Michael Wilding) who he can ask for advice. Unfortunately, Arthur has somehow become a confidant for all the other characters as well…
While this story may have been somewhat fresh when Wilde first wrote it in 1895, seeing it nowadays is like treading familiar ground, especially if you watch a lot of romantic comedies. That’s because the majority of the plot once the blackmail aspect is introduced revolves around misunderstandings, complete with at least one scene where a character has to hide from another. To be fair, some of these misunderstandings don’t play out the way you’d think, and most of them aren’t dragged out to the point of becoming unbearable, but it’s still just material we’ve seen before. Plus, Cheveley is a familiar character trope to lovers of period pieces, and the blackmail plot isn’t anything new either. About the only truly enjoyable thing are the costumes and sets, which are exactly what you’d want out of a period piece. But if that’s the case, screencaps will do the job just as well.
Maybe this plays better on the stage, or with stronger actors, but I can’t recommend this particular version of the story. It’s also possible I’ve become jaded from years of reviewing, but I honestly don’t think there’s anything special about this movie except perhaps for the visuals. Eyecandy is all well and good, but I normally expect a little sustenance for my brain as well.
As has been well-established by now, I can be easily lured into watching a movie on the promise of pretty period piece costumes. Such was the case with the 1947 version of An Ideal Husband, though at least this one also had potential because it was based on a play by Oscar Wilde, which made me hope we’d get some witty dialogue too. I wasn’t disappointed on the costume front, but the story and dialogue were another matter.
The story centers around a married couple, Robert and Gertrude Chiltern (Hugh Williams and Diana Wynyard), who care deeply for each other. In fact, Gertrude considers him pretty much to be perfect in every way. But no one is perfect, as is evidenced when the beautiful, seductive, and socially grasping Laura Cheveley (Paulette Goddard) shows up to a party they’re throwing, takes Robert aside, and blackmails him. Since Robert’s a member of Parliament, she wants him to allow a project that’s just a financial scam to go through, or she’ll release an incriminating letter from his past. Robert doesn’t want to give in to the demands, but he fears what his wife will think, not to mention what this will mean for his career. Fortunately, Robert has a friend, Arthur Goring (Michael Wilding) who he can ask for advice. Unfortunately, Arthur has somehow become a confidant for all the other characters as well…
While this story may have been somewhat fresh when Wilde first wrote it in 1895, seeing it nowadays is like treading familiar ground, especially if you watch a lot of romantic comedies. That’s because the majority of the plot once the blackmail aspect is introduced revolves around misunderstandings, complete with at least one scene where a character has to hide from another. To be fair, some of these misunderstandings don’t play out the way you’d think, and most of them aren’t dragged out to the point of becoming unbearable, but it’s still just material we’ve seen before. Plus, Cheveley is a familiar character trope to lovers of period pieces, and the blackmail plot isn’t anything new either. About the only truly enjoyable thing are the costumes and sets, which are exactly what you’d want out of a period piece. But if that’s the case, screencaps will do the job just as well.
Maybe this plays better on the stage, or with stronger actors, but I can’t recommend this particular version of the story. It’s also possible I’ve become jaded from years of reviewing, but I honestly don’t think there’s anything special about this movie except perhaps for the visuals. Eyecandy is all well and good, but I normally expect a little sustenance for my brain as well.