cinemabon
08-24-2005, 10:40 PM
Unfaithfully Yours - Written and Directed by Preston Sturges
Criterion, known for its thorough and artistic endeavors in regards to film, has released another Preston Sturges masterpiece. This time they've released “Unfaithfully Yours,” a light comedy with dark under tones. This is a single disc DVD, a decent print with some occasional bad spots; two new shorts, one with Monty Python’s Terry Jones, the other with Sturges widow, Sandy. James Harvey, Brian Henderson, and Diane Jacobs do the audio commentary with a heavy emphasis on Sturges’ biography, social commentary and some background but very little about the scenes. They seem a little too full of their own intellectual prowess and less concerned about what they regard as a lesser offering. In fact, they discuss Sturges other films all the way through this film. I found the audio commentary while intelligent a complete bore.
Sturges wrote and directed all of his works, preceding directors like Billy Wilder and John Huston. However, his distinction lay in the fact all his scripts were original screenplays, written by Sturges each time. The likes of Hitch, Wyler, and many other contemporary directors of his day admired his wit and comic timing. His unfortunate death in 1959 was far too premature for this genius. He would have vehemently protested his films being regarded as art. He loved telling stories and felt they should stand on their own merit as tales able to be enjoyed repeatedly.
The plot of the story immediately takes over during the opening credits, behind which we see the main character conducting an orchestra. Music will play two completely different roles in the film. First, the classic score will underlie a macabre tone of intrigue and murder, including a rather gruesome scene where Rex Harrison, playing the conductor, imagines revenge on the wife he suspects has been unfaithful. In three introspective looks into his mind as he conducts each score, we see the three different ways he handles his wife’s infidelity, supported with classical music timed to highlight action on the screen. The great Alfred Newman conducted the score.
In the second part, the score then becomes the supporting backdrop of the conductor’s ineptitude. Attempting to recreate the fantasy version assassination of his wife or perform one of the other deeds, Harrison’s character, Sir Alfred de Carter, goes through hilarious motions of slapstick in one of the funniest scenes ever filmed, a forerunner to the Pink Panther films and the style later developed further by Blake Edwards.
Sturges uses his stock of characters usually seen in all his films. Unfortunately for this film, Rex Harrison’s girlfriend committed suicide two weeks before the picture was to be released. Darryl Zanuck scaled back the planned publicity only allowing the trailers and posters to mention the film being a “murder mystery,” far from the truth. Bewildered audiences were either disappointed it turned out to be a comedy or didn’t want to see a Sturges drama. The film flopped and ended Sturges streak of 8 great films in four years that began with “The Great McGinty.”
There are some definite gems on this DVD, but my favorite involves the documentary/interview with Sandy Sturges about Preston’s life and some of the people he knew. Born in Chicago, but raised in France, Preston’s mother, a friend of Isadora Duncan, dragged the poor young man all over Europe from one gallery to the next. He loathed art and according to Sandy, did not like classical music either (there are several jabs at classical music in the film). According to Sandy Sturges, Preston invited William Faulkner to a dinner one night at his place, the Player’s Club. When he introduced “William Faulkner” nobody flinched. A disappointed Sturges sat at one end of the table while Faulkner moved to the other. When people ask who he was, he told them he was a farmer, and other fables, which they believed not knowing his true identity. Unable to take it any longer, Sturges blurted out, “He won the Nobel Prize in Literature, for chrissakes!” Then everyone at the table flocked to Faulkner, ignoring Sturges. Unwilling to take this slight he added in a loud voice, “Sure he won the Nobel, but he’s only five feet tall!”
I can’t say I have a favorite Sturges film as I like them all for different reasons. He was the anti-Capra director, bringing a bit of reality along with mirth to his message. Some of his best gems, like “Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” and “Christmas in July” have yet to be released on DVD video. While other gems like “Palm Beach Story,” “Sullivan’s Travels,” and “The Lady Eve,” also Criterion are available now.
Criterion, known for its thorough and artistic endeavors in regards to film, has released another Preston Sturges masterpiece. This time they've released “Unfaithfully Yours,” a light comedy with dark under tones. This is a single disc DVD, a decent print with some occasional bad spots; two new shorts, one with Monty Python’s Terry Jones, the other with Sturges widow, Sandy. James Harvey, Brian Henderson, and Diane Jacobs do the audio commentary with a heavy emphasis on Sturges’ biography, social commentary and some background but very little about the scenes. They seem a little too full of their own intellectual prowess and less concerned about what they regard as a lesser offering. In fact, they discuss Sturges other films all the way through this film. I found the audio commentary while intelligent a complete bore.
Sturges wrote and directed all of his works, preceding directors like Billy Wilder and John Huston. However, his distinction lay in the fact all his scripts were original screenplays, written by Sturges each time. The likes of Hitch, Wyler, and many other contemporary directors of his day admired his wit and comic timing. His unfortunate death in 1959 was far too premature for this genius. He would have vehemently protested his films being regarded as art. He loved telling stories and felt they should stand on their own merit as tales able to be enjoyed repeatedly.
The plot of the story immediately takes over during the opening credits, behind which we see the main character conducting an orchestra. Music will play two completely different roles in the film. First, the classic score will underlie a macabre tone of intrigue and murder, including a rather gruesome scene where Rex Harrison, playing the conductor, imagines revenge on the wife he suspects has been unfaithful. In three introspective looks into his mind as he conducts each score, we see the three different ways he handles his wife’s infidelity, supported with classical music timed to highlight action on the screen. The great Alfred Newman conducted the score.
In the second part, the score then becomes the supporting backdrop of the conductor’s ineptitude. Attempting to recreate the fantasy version assassination of his wife or perform one of the other deeds, Harrison’s character, Sir Alfred de Carter, goes through hilarious motions of slapstick in one of the funniest scenes ever filmed, a forerunner to the Pink Panther films and the style later developed further by Blake Edwards.
Sturges uses his stock of characters usually seen in all his films. Unfortunately for this film, Rex Harrison’s girlfriend committed suicide two weeks before the picture was to be released. Darryl Zanuck scaled back the planned publicity only allowing the trailers and posters to mention the film being a “murder mystery,” far from the truth. Bewildered audiences were either disappointed it turned out to be a comedy or didn’t want to see a Sturges drama. The film flopped and ended Sturges streak of 8 great films in four years that began with “The Great McGinty.”
There are some definite gems on this DVD, but my favorite involves the documentary/interview with Sandy Sturges about Preston’s life and some of the people he knew. Born in Chicago, but raised in France, Preston’s mother, a friend of Isadora Duncan, dragged the poor young man all over Europe from one gallery to the next. He loathed art and according to Sandy, did not like classical music either (there are several jabs at classical music in the film). According to Sandy Sturges, Preston invited William Faulkner to a dinner one night at his place, the Player’s Club. When he introduced “William Faulkner” nobody flinched. A disappointed Sturges sat at one end of the table while Faulkner moved to the other. When people ask who he was, he told them he was a farmer, and other fables, which they believed not knowing his true identity. Unable to take it any longer, Sturges blurted out, “He won the Nobel Prize in Literature, for chrissakes!” Then everyone at the table flocked to Faulkner, ignoring Sturges. Unwilling to take this slight he added in a loud voice, “Sure he won the Nobel, but he’s only five feet tall!”
I can’t say I have a favorite Sturges film as I like them all for different reasons. He was the anti-Capra director, bringing a bit of reality along with mirth to his message. Some of his best gems, like “Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” and “Christmas in July” have yet to be released on DVD video. While other gems like “Palm Beach Story,” “Sullivan’s Travels,” and “The Lady Eve,” also Criterion are available now.