When I sat down to watch this film, I frankly wasn't in the mood for a comedy. And I wasn't always impressed with Olivia de Havilland in comedies, although I felt she was one of best actresses of her generation. However, this turned out to be quite a pleasant romantic comedy.
De Havilland and Bob Cummings had some fine chemistry on screen, and I've long felt that Cummings has been unfairly forgotten, despite some very fine performances in films such as Hitchcock's "Sabateur" and the fine comedy "The Devil And Miss Jones". Cummings plays an airline pilot here, who falls in love with a woman he doesn't realize is a princess. Of course, Cummings ruined his film reputation when he moved to television and -- in the mid-1950s -- got into amphetamines.
There's a good supporting cast here, as well. Charles Coburn is one of the best of the character actors, although I can't say this is his best role. Jack Carson is the best friend, Jane Wyman the best female friend, Harry Davenport as a Supreme Court Judge, Gladys Cooper as a governess and secretary, and Minor Watson as a diplomat. Unfortunately, the film is so focused on De Havilland and Cummings that the supporting actors don't get as much screen time as they deserve.
The one real criticism is the running gag early in the film about sleeping pills. It is important to the story, but it went on too long.
However, all things considered, this is a pleasant and entertaining film. It's a light comedy, and not the heavy duty drama in which de Havilland excelled, and it's a great film for Cummings. It's worth a watch.
De Havilland and Bob Cummings had some fine chemistry on screen, and I've long felt that Cummings has been unfairly forgotten, despite some very fine performances in films such as Hitchcock's "Sabateur" and the fine comedy "The Devil And Miss Jones". Cummings plays an airline pilot here, who falls in love with a woman he doesn't realize is a princess. Of course, Cummings ruined his film reputation when he moved to television and -- in the mid-1950s -- got into amphetamines.
There's a good supporting cast here, as well. Charles Coburn is one of the best of the character actors, although I can't say this is his best role. Jack Carson is the best friend, Jane Wyman the best female friend, Harry Davenport as a Supreme Court Judge, Gladys Cooper as a governess and secretary, and Minor Watson as a diplomat. Unfortunately, the film is so focused on De Havilland and Cummings that the supporting actors don't get as much screen time as they deserve.
The one real criticism is the running gag early in the film about sleeping pills. It is important to the story, but it went on too long.
However, all things considered, this is a pleasant and entertaining film. It's a light comedy, and not the heavy duty drama in which de Havilland excelled, and it's a great film for Cummings. It's worth a watch.