Review of French Without Tears

Unfortunately this film is not yet released as an original DVD, and I saw it in a DVD-R, as copied from TV. I found it delightful and charming, a light and witty comedy, in the European tradition. It is about English students of french, in a boarding school in France. We have therefore the English sense of humor set against the french mentality, resulting in hilarious situations . The sister of one of the students arrives, a very beautiful girl and a terrible flirt, that becomes the love interest for almost everyone, except the one she really wants. The dialogs by T.Rattigan are very clever and refreshing, the direction of A.Asquith discreet, never overwhelming or pompous, and the special touch of the editor David Lean is evident throughout but especially in the scene of the carnival dance. All the actors are very good in the various characters they portray. Ellen Drew is both a doll with fairy-tale princess eyes, and exactly as she should be for her role. Ray Milland is as natural and as astonishing in this English type comedy, as he is in the American screwball comedy (Easy Living etc), plus so handsome and so sexy, once again a treat for our eyes!! This film is perfect without fanfares and exaggerations, and every time I watch it, it invariably makes me feel good....