Product Details

• Actors: Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy, Astrid Allwyn, Ruth Donnelly
• Directors: Mitchell Leisen
• Writers: Alan Campbell, Dorothy Parker, Frank Partos, Herbert Fields, Jack Kirkland
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: September 12, 1995
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303560113
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,716 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Legendary Carole Lombard At Her Most Lovely, September 7, 2003

By 

Simon Davis (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hands Across the Table [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Classic Hollywood produced many legendary actresses but none epitomised style, beauty, and madcap sophistication during the 1930's better than Carole Lombard. Sadly it seems she is really only remembered now for her early tragic death and as the wife of Clark Gable. This is a pity as during her lifetime this much loved woman was regarded as a talented actress in both screwball comedy and drama. I still see her as the definitive image of what Hollywood glamour and talent was all about during the golden age of classic movies in the 1930's. Paramount's "Hands Across The Table", made Lombard the highest paid actress of he rtime and reveals her talents at their most appealing in an amusing comedy/drama that has equal portions of her "wacky" persona alongside the more subtle dramatics that she was equally gifted in.

Paramount Studio's who had a well earned reputation for producing mature and sophisticated films were the right people to tackle this story of the "haves" and "have nots" of our society and the lengths some individuals will go to move up the social and financial ladder. "Hands Across The Table", tells the story of one such "have not", manicurist Regi Allen (Carole Lombard)who is employed at one of New York's plush hotels in the Barber Shop where she lives in daily anticipation of landing herself a rich husband from among all the wealthy men who come in for manicures. Cynical and hardened by her experiences Regi is thoroughly sick of her "hand to mouth" existence and loathes the idea of ending up just like her mother who worked hard all her life for no reward. Into the Barber Shop wanders amiable impoverished millionaire playboy Theodore Drew 111 (Fred MacMurray) who immediately looks like the goose that laid the golden egg in Regi's eyes. Not knowing his impoverished state Regi sees him as her definite passport out of her humdrum existence and readily accepts an invitation to dinner. Unbeknown to her however is the fact that Theodore is penniless and engaged to wealthy Pineapple heiress Vivian Snowden(Astrid Allwyn). To create an impression on Regi he uses the money the Snowden family gave to him for a trip to Bermuda for the slap up meal he takes Regi to. Stranded with no money in New York and having missed his boat to Bermuda Theodore tells Regi the cold hard truth about his position in life. Regi reluctantly agrees to Theodore staying over night on the couch of her apartment as she sees her dream of a money worry free existence evaporate before her eyes. For her it's the classic case of two gold diggers being of no use to each other to now achieve their dreams. Regi meanwhile has struck up a friendship with wealthy Allen Macklyn who is wheelchair bound and lives in the Penthouse of the hotel complex. Allen is besotted with Regi's fresh and direct manner about life and hopes to make her his wife. Theodore however falls totally in love with Regi and in an hilarious set of circumstances "scares off" potential suitors for Regi's hand, in particular in one funny scene pretending to be an abusive husband who "roughs up" Regi, who responds with frantic "screams of panic", behind a closed door much to the horror of the date sitting in the living room. Gradually by this "co-habitation" Regi and Theodore learn abit about real life and that love is not measured by how much money one has and sincerely fall in love. Both honestly face the realities of their life for the first time with Theodore calling off his financially very desirable engagement and Regi abandoning her quest for a wealthy husband thus removing wealthy Allen Macklyn's plan to propose to her. Flipping a coin on a bus Regi promises to become Theodore's wife but only after he joins the ranks of the workers and gets his first real job.

Classic depression era comedy/drama where true love wins out over possible higher financial stakes, "Hands Across The Table" has very believable characters and dialogue in the type of scenerio that only Hollywood could really create. Directed with a sure hand by stylish comedy director Mitchell Leisen who was responsible for some of Hollywood's greatest social comedies of this era, such as "Midnight", I believe most of us can identify with Carole Lombard's desire for a more exciting and financially rewarding life. It is the great skill of director Leisen and screenplay writers Norman Krasna and Vincent Laurence that never once do we regard these characters as the cynical gold diggers we might otherwise think they are. Carole Lombard is that perfect combination of feisty energy combined with certain vulnerable elements as the cynical manicurist who discovers real love for the first time. Her work with Fred MacMurray displays that seemingly effortless quality that comes with great personal chemistry. The two had a very successful run of films together in "The Princess Comes Across", "Swing High Swing Low" and "True Confession" that further cemented each performer's place in screen comedy history. Indeed "Hands Across The Table" really propelled Lombard to among the screen greats after many years of average film vehicles. Ralph Bellamy has the largely thankless role here yet again in a career littered with such characters, but it is to his credit as an actor that he gives this disabled gentleman a degree of dignity even when he looses the girl at the end.

While not the most hilarious comedy produced in the 30's "Hands Across The Table", has much to commend it from the magical presence of Carole Lombard at her absolute peak, to the unique non sentimental comedy/drama scenerio so typical of Paramount Studios, through to the expertise in all departments that went into star vehicles at this time. The obvious attraction that Carole Lombard had on audiences during the 1930's is very evident in this role and it helped great a memorable star image that has become the measuring stick for Hollywood glamour and grace on screen ever since. Enjoy Carole Lombard as a manicurist out for the good things in life in Mitchell Leisen's delightful comedy "Hands Across The Table".

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming Romantic Comedy, February 19, 2007

By 

Bobby Underwood "starlighthotel" (Manly NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hands Across the Table [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This romantic comedy has a sweetness and charm which finally put Carole Lombard on the "A" list and cemented her stardom. Too tame to live up to the screwball comedies it is often compared to, it has sort of been forgotten.

This was an important film for others as well. Lombard pleaded with Ernst Lubitsch to let Mitchell Leisen direct and her great instincts for talent put Leisen on the fast track also. Cinematographer Ted Tetzlaff became her photographer of choice, and looking at how lovely she is here, you can see why.

Lombard is manicurist Regi Allen, looking for a rich sugar daddy. Ralph Bellamy is paralyzed ex-pilot Allen Macklyn, a millionaire who takes a shine to her and becomes her friend. He has romantic notions as well but in a better than usual role for Bellamy, it is he that helps her discover that love is more important than money.

Fred MacMurray is terrific as Theodore Drew III, who has the society name but no longer the money to go with it. Regi doesn't know this, of course, and when she discovers he's engaged to Vivian Snowden (Astrid Allwyn), the "Pineapple Queen," that's when the two really begin to fall in love. There is a real sweetness and charm to scenes between the two as he bums a place to sleep from her and she tucks him in at night.

But Vivian discovers Ted's crazy phone call from Bemuda was actually made from New York and sets out to put a stop to it. Ted, however, knows it must really be love when he finds himself thinking about looking for a job! Lombard and MacMurray had such an easy repore it's no mystery why they were so often together in her movies from this period.

Both fun and charming, "Hands Across the Table" has a certain sweetness that gets under the viewer's skin and makes the slight story very enjoyable. A fun ending is right in line with the easy charm of the rest of the film. Though some screwball elements are in place here, those expecting that type of farce will be let down. Those fond of romantic comedy, however, and Lombard in particular, will love this film.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCOMPARABLE LOMBARD, January 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Hands Across the Table [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Although this movie has a fairly standard formula script (boy and girl meet, fall in love, overcome a few hurdles before true love can win out), Carole Lombard rises it above the usual studio fare to enjoyable fun. She has wonderful chemistry with Fred MacMurray and proves that she was simply one of the finest, if not THE finest, comediennes Hollywood ever produced. A must-see for any movie fan.