Customer Reviews

Grass Is Greener [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

What a wonderful movie. Who could ask for more, with a cast including Cary Grant and Robert Mitchum? Not to mention a duel, a missing mink coat, mushrooms, British manors and fishing?

A wonderful romance, that shows how fate and middle age can come together and create havoc on the seemingly happy, if not a bit dull, life of a settled English couple, whose large country estate doubles as a tourist atrraction to support itself. (with lots of American tourists who leave apple cores and sticky bits of paper all over the grounds!)
To make ends meet, the wife also happens to run a thriving mushroom growing business in the cellar! (phew that was a long sentence!)
Robert Mitchum is one of these camera toting tourist who "mistakenly" wanders into the private portion of the house, finding Lady Rile and the sparks fly!
It's a charming old-fashioned adult romantic farce, that's not too far fetched.

I recently caught this movie on cable and had to add it to my collection. Everyone in this film is brilliant, Deborah Kerr, Cary Grant, Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons. While touring a mansion Mitchum's character meets up with Kerr's and sparks fly. Watch how the always suave and debonair Cary Grant catches on to their attraction and how hard he tried to save their marriage. Jean Simmons is hilarious as Kerr's ditzy best friend. A bit soap-opera-ish at times but worth the effort of watching the story unfold. It also beats anything that is out there among the current crop of movies. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore, nor is there anyone this talented in showbiz anymore!

I don't even know what Dundee cake is, but I like this movie. Cary Grant as the befuddled, cool, supercilious, angry, calm, loving, clever, wronged, vengeful, forgiving Lord Rhyall does indeed excel. Deborah Kerr as the lady of the house who falls for Robert Mitchum, quite good. Mitchum's not bad at playing the cad. Jean Simmons as the bibulous, gossipy friend Hattie -- priceless.

But the dialogue, the verbal joustings, the rapid-fire wit: a marvel. As it turns out, there's jousting of a non-verbal variety, too. There's a weekend spent fishing. There are mysteries solved. There are lies covered and uncovered. There are knowing glances. There are panicky schemes and "friendly" phone calls. And most of the time, for the happy viewer, there is laughter. And admiration of this very elegant, very witty, funny and serious film.

The movie is delightful, the DVD copy is very satisfactory. Its letterbox format is perfect for this movie, much better than an ananorphic format would have been.

My only complaint is that although the DVD is advertised as "Closed-Captioned" - it has the "CC" logo on the case - the DVD has NO captioning. This is quite disappointing for those who need captions.

Still, this DVD is the best way to see "The Grass Is Greener" outside of a movie theater.

This is a light implausible movie, not chock-full of deep laughter. However, the actors are very well chosen and convey an infectious sense that they are thoroughly enjoying themselves (particularly the delightful Jean Simmons). If you like drawing-room comedies (e.g., Noel Coward's lighter plays like "Hay Fever"), you'll enjoy this. It's a fun American/British clash of cultures (and who were more different than Robert Mitchum and Cary Grant?) with slight romance and hokum and humor. If you like this one, you'll like the British/American variety in "The Reluctant Debutante" (but without the annoying and dated Sandra Dee/John Saxon angle) and the British/American comedy/romance among the upper class of much of "The Last of Mrs. Cheney".

The perfect marriage of Kerr and Grant hits a snag when dapper, and loaded, American tourist Mitchum shows up at their grand English country home. While these three hold their own in their respective roles, it is Jean Simmons as the not to subtle and nosy best friend of the couple who steals the show. Her complete enjoyment of everyone else's discomfort is a delight and the writing is witty yet dead on caustic too. Just the scene where she shows up at the house to "comfort" Grant is enough to make any viewer love this film. Definitely a must-see.

This movie is wonderful! It has the funny Grant, the beautiful and talented Kerr, and the supporting cast of Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons. It is about an earl who turns his mansion into a tourist attraction. Then, his wife (Kerr) meets an American (Mitchum) and they fall in love. But Grant isn't going to accept it, and he has Jean Simmons to help him get his wife back. Made in 1960, this film is a true classic that will keep you entertained from the beginning to the end!

Grant is so suave and cool in this one! As a big-time Cary Grant fan, I am qualified to say that this is one of his best! A little older, very mature, funny, romantic, Grant is cool and calculating handling his wife with the eye for the American. This is a must see for any Grant fan! ENJOY!

The combination of Grant and Kerr is wonderful on the screen. I loved the mix of British humor and civility. Adding the dash of American brashness in Robert Mitchum, one can enjoy watching the wheels fall off. A very enjoyable movie!

For fans of the four leads, this film is deligthfully silly and very enjoyable. Cary Grant gives a sly twist to the stereotypical stiff English gentleman; Deborah Kerr (always a pleasure to watch) is perfect as his wife; Jean Simmons provides dotty support as Kerr's friend, and Robert Mitchum has a little fun for once with a comedic role. If you enjoyed the romantic dramas "An Affair to Remember" and "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison," this is a nice antidote; for fans of Grant, Kerr and Mitchum, this is a must-see. (For fans of Kerr or Mitchum, don't miss the third film in their trilogy of pairings, "The Sundowners.") A bit long but otherwise quite fun.