Private Lives

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Stuart G Sadly, this gem is so seldom shown. Noel Coward's influence is all over this film ("Don't quibble, Sibyl"). And his lovely melody -- how I would have loved to hear him sing it. Norma Shearer is not a favorite of mine, but here she glows. The movie is so soon after the silents that one can see how she cut her teeth in that era -- her expressiveness is delicious. It is so timeless as sophisticated screwball comedy that seen twice is not enough. The original British cast included Coward and Gertrude Lawrence in the leads -- she being an International star at the time, coming here to take the lead in the original "The King And I" on Broadway. Watch "Private Lives". Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Audience Member It's a swift and witty film that is one of the most intelligent comedies I have seen. The direction is excellent and Norm Shearer gives an alert, sharp portrayal. Robert Montgomery struggles with matters at the outset but he soon succeeds in doing well enough with his role. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member 'Private Lives' starts simply enough, with Norma Shearer together with her new husband after having been divorced from Robert Montgomery, and him together with his new wife. As fate (or playwright Noel Coward) would have it, they happen to end up spending their honeymoons in adjoining suites. I suppose you can imagine what comes next as their love is rekindled, but what happens beyond that is a little bit of a surprise. It feels like a 1931 version of 'Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', though without the same weight. Shearer is natural and plays 'exasperated' well, but she overacts at others times, and Montgomery is similarly uneven. They do have some level of chemistry, and the best scene that has them worked up to near violence (her hitting him over the head with a record, him slapping her, her running to the couch to bury her head and kicking her legs) is probably the best of the movie, but even that has an air or ridiculousness about it, meaning it hasn't aged terribly well. Their co-stars, Reginald Denny and Una Merkel are bland and unappealing. The theme is timeless, the difficulty of staying happy in relationships, and the danger of thinking the grass is always greener. There are some nice moments, such as when Shearer is expounding on the wonders of travel, saying she loves "arriving at strange places, meeting strange people, and eating strange food", and then Montgomery quips, "yes, and making strange noises afterwards". It is also risqué in some parts, such as this exchange early on: Denny: He struck you once, didn't he? Shearer (smiling): Oh, more than once. Denny (concerned): where? Shearer (smiling and raising an eyebrow): Several places... For every element I found I liked, there was an equally unappealing element, and in this case I suppose Montgomery's line that "certain women should be struck regularly, like gongs" later in the movie is that. It's not awful, but the movie gets tedious with all of the bickering, and I found myself happy when it was over. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Private Lives showcases the comedic skills of Shearer and Montgomery as well as their onscreen chemistry. I can see how some might not enjoy this film that revolves around pretty horrible people, but I love Noel Coward and fast paced comedies. It is definitely a product of its time, but for me that's the charm. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member another pre-code love triangle pic Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I really liked the performances by Narma Shearer and Robert Montgomery, father of Elizabeth Montgomery... Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Private Lives

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