Happily, the mainstream acceptance of DVD has emboldened studios to look beyond the certified Hollywood classics to release lesser-known vintage fare. This 1942 film--nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture--is part social drama, part sparkling romantic comedy, and part screwball farce. Cary Grant stars as Leopold Dilg, a rabble-rouser who is framed for arson and later escapes from prison. Ronald Colman costars as Professor Lightcap, a distinguished law school dean "on vacation from the law" while he writes a book. Jean Arthur rounds out the triangle as Dilg's childhood sweetheart, in whose cottage the fugitive Dilg hides, and where Lightcap settles in as her boarder. Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe on Petticoat Junction) is a knockout as Dilg's pugilistic attorney who tries to recruit Lightcap to champion Dilg's cause. Brilliantly acted and intelligently written, this lesser-known Grant classic looks reasonably sharp on this extra-less DVD (the reported alternate ending would have been a nice addition). Incidentally, anyone interested in who gets the dame at film's end is best advised not to look at the disc's main menu. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (K. Lee Benson)
The Talk of the Town
Columbia TriStar, 119 min., not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 18, Issue 3
The Talk of the Town
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: