Icons of Screwball Comedy, Volume 1 (If You Could Only Cook / Too Many Husbands / My Sister Eileen / She Wouldn't Say Yes)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Fred McMurray, Rosalind Russell, The Three StoogesBrand: Sony
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 336 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-08-04
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures
Movie Reviews of Icons of Screwball Comedy, Volume 1 (If You Could Only Cook / Too Many Husbands / My Sister Eileen / She Wouldn't Say Yes)
Movie Review: One Rosalind Russell Classic and a Little Known Jean Arthur Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
In my earlier review of the color musical remake of "My Sister Eileen" My Sister Eileen I discussed at some length the many superior charms of the (then) unavailable Rosalind Russell version of "My Sister Eileen", and complained of its absence from DVD. Well at last the outstanding 1942 "My Sister Eileen" with Rosalind Russell in absolute top form is available on DVD. Following sensational roles in 1939's "The Women", and 1940's "His Girl Friday", Russell's hilarious performance as the no-nonsense big sister of beautiful Eileen earned Russell her first (of four) Oscar nominations. Not until Auntie Mame would she again touch such comedic heights. If you enjoy Russell in any of those films you're in for a treat here.
"If You Could Only Cook", a 1935 Jean Arthur feature, is the charming runner-up in this four film set. A very brief film, even for the age of double features, the film premiered as an 'A' at Christmas in 1935 and won good notices. A classic thirties Cinderella story, with Arthur as struggling shop girl, the film's delights are nicely divided between the irrepressibly attractive Arthur, and the rest of a small and fine cast. Herbert Marshall plays an automobile tycoon, who meets and his charmed by the lovely Jean while cooling his heels in the park following an argument with his board of directors. Intriqued by the penniless Arthur's determination to find a job, he keeps his own status a secret, and when she mistakes him for a fellow down and out, he goes along. The only possible job offering Arthur can find calls for a couple, a cook and butler, and when Marshall decides to tag along of course things go from there. The too often stolid Marshall plays with much of the liveliness of in his earlier delightful work in Lubitsch's "Trouble in Paradise" - one of the most stylish films ever made - Trouble in Paradise - Criterion Collection.
Stealing scenes are Leo Carrillo, a pig in clover as retired Italian gangster Mike Rossini, who now lives for gourmet food. His auditioning scene for aspiring applicants for the position of cook is as light as a souffle. Impressed with Arthur's gastronomic reserve with garlic, he immediately hires the 'couple' to be his new cook/maid and butler, and the two strangers suddenly find themselves shacked up together in a small servants quarters! Carrillo's sidekick, "Flash", a wonderfully cynical and down to earth Lionel Stander, is everything you could ask for in a character actor, and delivers his many great lines with absolute perfection. a wonderful part, superbly played! The romance between Arthur and Marshall's characters sputters here and there as the plot creaks it way along, but the film as a whole is quite charming. The wild ending certainly is terrific!
Jean Arthur fans should absolutely not miss an even better one of these somewhat lesser known Arthur films, this time with a superb script by Preston Sturges, "Easy Living". Easy Living (Universal Cinema Classics)
Having said nice things about these two films I'll recall that sage advice given to all youngsters about noting saying anything at all if you haven't anything nice to say and refrain from adding anything about the other two features. Suffice it to say you should buy this set for these two films!
More Icons of Screwball Comedy, Volume 1 (If You Could Only Cook / Too Many Husbands / My Sister Eileen / She Wouldn't Say Yes) reviews:
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1 2
Summary of Icons of Screwball Comedy, Volume 1 (If You Could Only Cook / Too Many Husbands / My Sister Eileen / She Wouldn't Say Yes)
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