oh, claudette...

Very entertaining screwball comedy, full of witty dialogue, clever reversals, and class commentary. The screenplay by Wilder and Brackett is golden, some really funny zingers and the plot is beautifully constructed. Sparkling performances by Colbert, Ameche, Barrymore, and Astor. Even the photography was quite good for a movie of this ilk, especially the first 15 minutes with those rainy Parisian streets. I'm not usually a big fan of screwball, but this one rubbed me all the right ways.

It's set up well, and there are a quite a few laughs, but in the end, the romance felt just a little too underdeveloped for me.

824

I'm finding that I like Colbert the more I see of her, and Don Ameche is a riot. There's scheming and imposters with a little touch of class consciousness in this slightly uneven comedy. But it is light, and every time it feels like it could come crashing down in the plots ridiculousness, an even more ridiculous twist, driven by the character's (and screenwriter Billy Wilder's) cleverness keeps it floating along.

#816

A fun screwball flick. Colbert and Ameche really have chemistry as two opposites who offset each other. It's well-written with a lot of clever scenarios, but I didn't find it to be a gut-buster. Even so, it is a very easy watch.

# 730

Great whenever Don Ameche is on screen (the last 45 minutes or so are hilarious) but weak otherwise.

A fun 1930's comedy. It's quick paced, well acted and full of great dialogue. It also manages to avoid the biggest pitfall comedies of the era run into, which is wearing thin with the same joke. It's not deep, but it's wonderful entertainment.

Starts out only mildly amusing, but powers home in the last 40 minutes with the reappearance of Ameche. He is great here and deserved much more screen time. It was also fun to see him as a young actor. There is some clever dialogue on occasion and despite some dull moments early it should leave you with a smile.

What a joyous, wonderful example of classical Hollywood at its finest. It's not quite Lubitsch in subtlety, but not quite Hawks in overt comedy, either. Barrymore is fantastic, and I can safely say (with my heterosexuality intact) that I have a severe man-crush on young Don Ameche. To think he was going to have Mason's part in Lolita...

745