Watch
The Talk of the Town

The Talk of the Town

1942
Romance, Comedy
1h 58m
When the Holmes Woolen Mill burns down, political activist Leopold Dilg is jailed for arson (and murder; one man was lost). Escaping, Leopold hides out in the home of his childhood sweetheart Nora Shelley ...which she has just rented to unsuspecting law professor Michael Lightcap. As Lightcap's unwelcome guests, Nora and Leopold drag the professor, willy-nilly, from pure legal theory to impure legal practice. Blends comedy, thriller, philosophy, mystery and romance. (imdb)
Your probable score
?

The Talk of the Town

1942
Romance, Comedy
1h 58m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 59.75% from 194 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(194)
Compact view
Compact view
Rated 11 Mar 2014
83
72nd
Three great leads always makes for a fun time. The love triangle is handled really well, the social commentary is blunt but doesn't feel heavy handed, and the comedy is pretty fun.
Rated 06 Apr 2012
58
17th
Corny and improbable
Rated 19 Jul 2015
85
92nd
Bromance
Rated 11 Nov 2017
60
50th
Decent. Grant and Colman could be accused of coasting here, but they put in about as much effort as the script demands/deserves.
Rated 27 Jan 2013
87
81st
An agitator (Cary Grant) framed for arson and murder takes refuge with an old friend (Jean Arthur) and the law professor (Ronald Colman) leasing her home; legal debates and other shenanigans ensue. A strange mixture of comedy and drama, oddly structured and overlong, but consistently well-made (by George Stevens), with Irwin Shaw and Sidney Buchman's crisp, thought-provoking script, and boasting the star trio in fine form; Rex Ingram is a welcome presence as Colman' s valet.
Rated 09 Apr 2011
81
69th
A slight similarity to Stevens' following film, The More the Merrier. This has more of a love triangle element to it, however, as well as some not-too-shabby social commentary. Fairly predictable, but there actually is a moment when you're not sure who Arthur will end up with. And it's quite entertaining, not too screwball for my tastes and some winning performances. Not the greatest comedy in the world and not the most memorable, but there's definitely fun to be had.
Rated 16 Nov 2018
60
89th
Seems they couldn't make up their minds about making a serious drama or a screwball comedy. Made my feelings very mixed. Sure, it plays into the strength of it's actors. You can't get much more lovable than Cary Grant, Jean Arthur & Ronald Colman, and you know those romcoms of Grant and Arthur are always a blast, with Coleman giving his more dignified touch to the whole affair. However the story is one of a rougher kind and aura got mushed-up with all the cute and charming stuff.
Rated 12 Mar 2021
90
67th
The scene where Jean Arthur smothers Carey Grant's face in kisses after he had just been punched, saying in that sweet, angelic voice of hers saying something like "Oh, my darling, Did he hit you? Is that better? There, did that make it better?" makes this whole film something special! Every line Jean utters in this film is delivered with her usual grace, and she is particularly flirty and sweet in this film. My gosh, she turns me on!!
Rated 30 Jun 2009
92
82nd
Very funny, political, and dramatic. I loved it.
Rated 01 Feb 2010
74
24th
In spite of a good cast and direction, this comedy about Cary Grant the anarchist never quite works.
Rated 28 Apr 2020
70
19th
Viewed April 26, 2020.
Rated 19 Dec 2022
60
49th
A story of chaotic good vs lawful neutral/good that touches on some profound matters in an often flimsy, haphazard way. Worth watching just to see INTJ Lightcap evolve into a sexy postconventionally moral beast. But moments were dumb with contrived conflict, and Carey Grant was at maybe his least charming - made annoying by the daffy impetuosity of the script’s characterization. There was that one ironically…ugh…line about heroically “gunning down indians”. Sigh. Mixed bag but Coleman swoons me.

Collections

(9)
Compact view
Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results

Similar Titles

Loading ...

Statistics

Loading ...

Trailer

No Trailer