Chicago – It’s a cause for celebration amongst film buffs when any picture—however minor or unremarkable—is miraculously resurrected from the dead, enabling us to view a lost piece of cinema history. That being said, there are countless titles more worthy of being reborn than “Perfect Understanding,” the latest alleged classic released by Cohen Media Group.
At first glance, this 1933 talkie promises to be fascinating. After making the intimidating transition to sound, while scoring two Oscar nominations in the process, one would imagine that Gloria Swanson’s career was on fire. Yet her popularity was waning with audiences, inspiring the star to form her own production company to make this comeback vehicle with a young up-and-comer named Laurence Olivier. Apparently the film fizzled during its initial release, inspiring Swanson to make only two more pictures before disappearing for nearly a decade.
Blu-ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
It wasn’t until 1950 when Swanson...
At first glance, this 1933 talkie promises to be fascinating. After making the intimidating transition to sound, while scoring two Oscar nominations in the process, one would imagine that Gloria Swanson’s career was on fire. Yet her popularity was waning with audiences, inspiring the star to form her own production company to make this comeback vehicle with a young up-and-comer named Laurence Olivier. Apparently the film fizzled during its initial release, inspiring Swanson to make only two more pictures before disappearing for nearly a decade.
Blu-ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
It wasn’t until 1950 when Swanson...
- 6/15/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The idea of a marriage working through the cardinal rule of improv (always say 'yes') is an interesting one that many comedians could probably have a field day. Something close to that effect was tried out a few years ago with Jim Carrey's Yes Man, but long before that came Cyril Gardner's Perfect Understanding, the story of a couple who promise to never disagree with one another, only for that concept to become increasingly difficult as the man's eye starts to wander. A film essentially made to help Gloria Swanson prove her viability as an actress in the age of talkies, it seemed to have a lot going for it, including Laurence Olivier as her counterpart. The concept however never really takes off due to the two main characters being somewhat trite and, at times, repulsive, and ultimately the film is less of a forgotten gem and more...
- 6/6/2013
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: June 4, 2013
Price: DVD $24.99, Blu-ray $34.99
Studio: Cohen Film Collection/Entertainment One
Gloria Swanson and Laurence Olivier test out the viability of their marriage vows in Perfect Understanding.
Cinema icons Gloria Swanson (Sunset Boulevard) and Laurence Olivier (Richard III) star in the 1933 romantic comedy Perfect Understanding, the only film the pair made together.
Judy (Swanson) and Nicholas (Olivier) are a young society couple who marry based on the “perfect understanding” that they will be allowed to enjoy extramarital adventures and never let jealousy come between them.
That arrangement is soon put to the test when a drunk Nicholas sleeps with a former lover (Nora Swinburne, TV’s The Forsythe Saga). When he returns to Judy, he is guilt-ridden and confesses his indiscretion. Judy forgives him, but Nicholas is soon battling his own feelings of jealousy when he comes to believe that Judy has slept with an old friend of hers (John Halliday,...
Price: DVD $24.99, Blu-ray $34.99
Studio: Cohen Film Collection/Entertainment One
Gloria Swanson and Laurence Olivier test out the viability of their marriage vows in Perfect Understanding.
Cinema icons Gloria Swanson (Sunset Boulevard) and Laurence Olivier (Richard III) star in the 1933 romantic comedy Perfect Understanding, the only film the pair made together.
Judy (Swanson) and Nicholas (Olivier) are a young society couple who marry based on the “perfect understanding” that they will be allowed to enjoy extramarital adventures and never let jealousy come between them.
That arrangement is soon put to the test when a drunk Nicholas sleeps with a former lover (Nora Swinburne, TV’s The Forsythe Saga). When he returns to Judy, he is guilt-ridden and confesses his indiscretion. Judy forgives him, but Nicholas is soon battling his own feelings of jealousy when he comes to believe that Judy has slept with an old friend of hers (John Halliday,...
- 5/15/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
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