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Hilarious early mid-'30s classic comedy
posté par genplant29STAFFMOD le 8 avril 2017 à 18h29
I consider this to be one of the most genuinely hilarious movies of its or any other era. It's terrifically side-splittingly funny and a thorough treat. John Barrymore absolutely "makes" this film. But Carole Lombard holds her own impressively, too! The two are a master course in stellar comedic acting.
The script is howlingly funny throughout - particularly everything/anything Barrymore's Oscar Jaffe character says. The only aspect of the movie that slows things down a little for me is the parts with the little old man on the train. I don't see the point of any of that, and none of it is actually funny to my tastes.
Among the movie's myriad truly hilarious moments, one of my very favourite is when Oscar is nonchalantly removing the synthetic nose that has been part of his disguise! 
Though Barrymore was most certainly a great dramatic actor, this movie illustrates he could just as masterfully go the comedy acting route. It served him well to gravitate in that direction as his Hollywood dramatic acting career steadily plummeted and he became increasingly more of a doddering drunk type. His "hammy" type of old-school theatrical acting lent itself perfectly to over-the-top comedy, such as he brilliantly excels at in this movie. In this, he gets every line, move, and look side-splittingly dead-on right!
This movie just barely squeaked in before the strict enforcement of the Production Code. It was released in early May 1934, and Code enforcement began that year on July 1st. That explains how this film gets away with various things that definitely wouldn't have been let slide just a short time later.
Réponse de barrymost
le 4 septembre 2019 à 16h23
I thought this was a hilarious film as well! John Barrymore is absolutely perfect in this. My favorite scene was near the beginning when, teaching Carole Lombard how to properly scream, he takes a pincushion and jabs her in the backside! I think fell off the couch laughing at that!
Also quite good is the sequence where he fakes that he is dying simply to get Lombard to sign the contract and begin working for him again. He was so over-the-top in this, and every other scene here, but all to marvelous effect.
Réponse de genplant29
le 4 septembre 2019 à 18h06
Finally, someone's responded to this thread!
I tremendously enjoy this hilarious movie.
John Barrymore thread about him here certainly is in his element to the max here with the humour and the hysterical theatrics! He at all times knows the precise perfect place to take things and how to get peak possible effect from each and every action or spoken line. And does he ever get great lines in this movie! Some best Oscar Jaffe-isms "Tingalingalingalingaling" gets me every time!
This is one of the very few films (or t.v. shows) that I've ever truly laughed hysterically - literally LOL/LMAO - during, as John and Carole (and others) take things so wonderfully, perfectly, magnificently OTT!
By the way, barry, as you enjoyed Barrymore's wonderful mastery of comedy in this movie - and since your TMDb profile says your fave genre is screwball comedy - definitely be sure to check out the terrific 1939 classic screwball Midnight this, in which he comes off to similarly marvelous effect. The scene when he places a particular phone call is not to be missed!
That film and Twentieth Century, viewed in succession, make for a highly entertaining ideal J. Barrymore and screwball double-bill!
Réponse de barrymost
le 5 septembre 2019 à 14h27
Ah yes, the great John Barrymore was a hopeless ham, and I mean that in the best possible way.
I'll be sure to check out Midnight soon. I just added it to my watch list a little while ago; thanks for bringing my attention to it. I'd heard of it before, but did not know (or maybe had forgotten) that John was in that. I do like Claudette Colbert as well, so I'm looking forward to seeing that.
Réponse de genplant29
le 5 septembre 2019 à 14h43
Ever since mentioning Midnight yesterday, I'm eager to see it again ASAP - and fortunately I do have the DVD of it (ditto Twentieth Century) in my collection.
There's significant likelihood it'll be getting viewed in the coming hours!
Midnight is a very entertaining, funny movie, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Not only the story, but also the casting and acting, is terrific. Btw, in that movie, John's real-life final wife, Elaine Barrie, has a small featured part as, if I recall correctly, a catty hat shop owner.
Yep: John certainly knew how to serve up the ham with full garnishments!
Réponse de barrymost
le 5 septembre 2019 à 14h54
Yes, I'm very much looking forward to it! Thanks again, gen, and enjoy your rewatch of Midnight!