Unfaithfully Yours (1948)

Director:

Preston Sturges

Writer:

Preston Sturges (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 December 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Will somebody "get her" tonite?

Plot:

Sir Alfred De Carter suspects his wife of infidelity. While conducting a symphony orchestra, he imagines...

Plot Keywords:

Writer Director | Investigation | Family Member | Infidelity | Unfaithful Wife

Cast

Rex Harrison	...	Sir Alfred De Carter
Linda Darnell	...	Daphne De Carter
Rudy Vallee	...	August Henshler
Barbara Lawrence	...	Barbara Henshler
Kurt Kreuger	...	Anthony Windborn
Lionel Stander	...	Hugo Standoff
Edgar Kennedy	...	Detective Sweeney
Al Bridge	...	House Detective (as Alan Bridge)
Julius Tannen	...	O'Brien
Torben Meyer	...	Dr. Schultz

Also Known As:

Symphony Story (USA) (working title)
Unfinished Symphony (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (certificate #12960)

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The orchestral conductor Sir Alfred de Carter, is based loosely on the real life British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. Beecham was the son of pharmacist Sir Joseph Beecham, the inventor of the laxative Beecham's Pills. Accordingly Harrison's character, Sir Alfred de Carter, is said to be named after Carter's Little Liver Pills, the American equivalent.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Just prior to the first murder-scenario fantasy, Sir Alfred's shadow is visible on the rear-screen projection screen as the camera tracks in on his eye.

Quotes:

Alfred: A thousand poets dreamed a thousand years, then you were born, my love.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)

Preston Sturges is criminally neglected

Unfaithfully Yours is a step down from his great masterpieces, Christmas in July, The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels, Hail the Conquering Hero, and Miracle at Morgan's Creek (I don't think I forgot any; I've seen all of his films which are now thought of as important except Palm Beach Story; I also haven't seen his film about Louis Pasteur or his final film, the one with Betty Grable, The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Creek or some such title), but it is masterful nonetheless. Sturges' script is exquisite - it has one of the most unique structures I've ever come upon, which I will not ruin for any of you. It's also quite hilarious, as we can expect from the greatest comedy director of all times, American or foreign.

There are a couple of problems, though. The situation and structure are brilliant, but the main character, while we can understand his mental anguish, becomes too mean as the picture progresses. As much as he seemed to love his wife in the first act, it is difficult to believe, even under the circumstances, that he would be that cruel towards her. Even if I did buy his awful temper (this guy's worse than Othello), it really is hard to forgive him for being such a tremendous *sshole when he comes around at the end. The film also suffers from what has to be the longest extended slapstick sequence in film history. It starts out great, especially the bit with the phone operator, but as the guy breaks more and more stuff, it just gets old. Also, with the telephone bit, the fourth time was the charm - it got a big laugh from me, but the fifth time was really too much. All and all, despite these criticisms, it still comes off as a pretty great and memorable film from a true master. 9/10.