One of the pleasures of my movie-going life is to watch FRANK MORGAN in just about anything. His well established mannerisms gave many an MGM film a lift, particularly in the '30s and '40s, but here he's doing a job for RKO under Pandro S. Berman's auspices and his lovable presence is somewhat ill served by a less than original script.
But even a mild programmer like this has some compensations. MARGARET HAMILTON plays a nosy maid influenced by astrology and a platinum-haired BETTY GRABLE makes a brief appearance in one of her early starlet roles. But the story revolves around the "seven year itch" aspect of Frank Morgan's marriage and his own inability to accept the fact that he's middle-aged. GENEVIEVE TOBIN makes no particular impression as his understanding wife who reluctantly accepts the idea that they take a vacation from marriage. NEIL HAMILTON has virtually little to do as her romantic interest.
It's Morgan's restless, blustery performance that carries the film, but there's not much plot to carry. Based on a play, it's a theme better handled years later in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH.
But even a mild programmer like this has some compensations. MARGARET HAMILTON plays a nosy maid influenced by astrology and a platinum-haired BETTY GRABLE makes a brief appearance in one of her early starlet roles. But the story revolves around the "seven year itch" aspect of Frank Morgan's marriage and his own inability to accept the fact that he's middle-aged. GENEVIEVE TOBIN makes no particular impression as his understanding wife who reluctantly accepts the idea that they take a vacation from marriage. NEIL HAMILTON has virtually little to do as her romantic interest.
It's Morgan's restless, blustery performance that carries the film, but there's not much plot to carry. Based on a play, it's a theme better handled years later in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH.