French Without Tears

Why didn't Terence Rattigan write more comedies? He was much better at that than at serious drama, which didn't always strike home, but a comedy like this one is an ace in the genre, with brilliant dialogue, hilarious characters, sophisticated irony and irresistible charm. Ray Milland here is very close to Cary Grant and could surely have made more parts like this and even compete with his countryman, and Roland Culver in probably his best part ever is an outrageously likeable caricature of a very square naval officer. All the others are perfect as well, having some difficulty as very English dandies to get along in France with a very strict French professor, the best caricature of them all, like a double of Emil Jannings in "The Blue Angel" but funnier and more French. Add to this the eloquent and intelligent touch of Anthony Asquith's direction, and you''ll find there was something to those blasphemous suggestions that Asquith was a more accomplished director than Hitchcock. They certainly complement each other, and Asquith was more elegant and intelligent, while Hitchcock was more effective. Anyway, this comedy is a must and a classic, setting something of a paragon example for the great era of English comedies usually starring Alec Guinness, and they were many and all exceptionally good. I saw this one more than 50 years ago, but I had no memory it was that immensely good. What a positively delightful surprise of an old acquaintance!