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51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
His Last Bow, October 22, 2000
In hindsight, Paramount's decision to terminate their relationship with Preston Sturges occupies the region between 'insane', 'irresponsible' and that old standby, 'stupid'. Sturges' subsequent relocation to Fox was, of course, utterly disastrous; which makes UNFAITHFULLY YOURS as much a miracle as it is a great comedy. His stock company (save for a very funny Rudy Vallee) was now a thing of the past; although the cast he assembled here is game and lively, Edgar Kennedy foremost among them. Nevertheless, UNFAITHFULLY YOURS is Sturges' second consecutive attempt (after MAD WEDNESDAY) to move away from his trademark of the inspired dialogue-comedy and towards a more visual (or in this case, audio-visual) farce. Fortunately for us, he succeeded brilliantly (not that it cut him any ice in an increasingly desperate studio-system that not only didn't know what to do with its few geniuses but began to openly despise them). Rex Harrison plays a vain, high-strung symphony conductor who -thanks inadvertantly to his cuckold of a brother in law (Vallee, naturally)- begins to suspect his wife of having an affair. What follows is an amazingly supple and creative variation of the boudoir-farce, highlighted by the famous virtuoso segments in which Harrison daydreams of killing her to the strains of Rossini, Wagner & Tchaikovsky, as well as the classic finale where cold-bloodedness and high culture both are reduced to slapstick bumbling (silent comedy, always near & dear to Sturges' heart, is a definite influence here). Ignored on its release, UNFAITHFULLY YOURS, combining as it does comedic disciplines of music, dialogue and sight-gags, has since been elevated to its rightful position as a masterwork. Unfortunately, this re-evaluation came too late to rescue Preston Sturges from the personal and professional oblivion the know-nothings (in and out of Hollywood) were remorselessly consigning him to. See this movie and help redress this outrage.
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Sturges' very best, December 13, 2001
Only The Lady Eve forces me to edge this movie out of number-one spot among Preston Sturges' comedies. The dialogue is snappy as ever (Doltish husband: "Too much temperament! Give me the simple viewpoint!" His wisecracking wife: "You've got it, kid. You don't have to yearn for it.") but the slapstick of the finale is cleverer by far than any in his other movies. The use of music is inspired, both in Harrison's concert revenge-fantasies and in his later attempts to put them into action, when the music is spiked with comic effects. A little slow to get started, this movie soon enough develops a quirky, unpredictable, and completely fascinating story line. Don't deprive yourself of seeing this!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unfaithfully Yours, September 5, 2005
Preston Sturges conceived, produced, wrote and directed this comic symphony at the peak of his creative powers, deftly combining fast, stinging dialogue with moments of inspired physical comedy. Harrison is in his element, with all his trademark cantankerousness on full display (reminiscent of a much younger Henry Higgins) and Darnell's an ever tolerant vision. Look for immortal comic Edgar Kennedy as a music loving detective.
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