Private Lives (1931)

After a turbulent marriage and divorce, a man (Robert Montgomery) and a woman (Norma Shearer) each remarry. Imagine their surprise when each of them are on their honeymoon, they find themselves in suites right next to each other with adjoining balconies! Based on the play by Noel Coward and directed by Sidney Franklin (THE GOOD EARTH). This is a pre code film which allows Coward's comedy of manners to keep some of its bite. It requires performers who can deliver witty banter and when one thinks of high comedy, one doesn't think of Shearer (the part cries out for a Maggie Smith). That being said, she's quite relaxed here (she and Montgomery have an amusing physical fight) and even has a bit of sex appeal. Irving Thalberg hadn't yet turned her into the great lady of MGM which pretty much made her a bore as an actress. It's far from the best production of Coward's play but the critics liked it, audiences liked it and even Coward had good things to say about it. It's not a foolproof play by any means so that it retains its acuity is a compliment to those involved and Franklin was wise not to "open up" the movie from its stage conventions too much. Still, I wish it were better. With Una Merkel, Reginald Denny and Jean Hersholt.