Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Oh, those crazy watchmen. They're crazy, as usual.

I'm sure you all knew this was coming. I mean, after all of my crazy Errol Flynn hysteria, you had to know that I would post another one of his movies sooner or later in my 100 movies list. So, here you are:

#24 Four's A Crowd (1938)


Okay, so I picked the Italian poster. I've been trying to stick with the American posters, if only for consistency, but this one is so much cooler. I had no choice.

And now I'm going to do a horrible, terrible thing. You see, I'd just written "I'm going to try and nutshell this one" but I erased and have decided upon this tact instead. I wanted to credit Doctor Macro for the poster and I realized that he probably has a much better summary of the film than I could ever hope to do.. So here is the link for both the poster and the summary.

Click on photo for source

I avoided this movie quite ridiculously for a little while because I'd read that Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland don't end up together and I thought that was just too dreadful. What's the joy of watching an Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland movie if they don't end up together? It would be as bad as watching a Fred and Ginger film with Fred dying at the end and Ginger reminiscing about their dancing. Oh, wait... (sorry, I really don't like that one). Well, I bit the bullet and watched it and am I glad I did! This zany screwball comedy hits the ground running and doesn't stop for breath. Within the first five minutes, Rosalind Russell helps Patric Knowles with his pants. What a start! After watching the movie, I sent my roommate a message along these lines: "I just watched a romantic comedy with Errol Flynn. He wears pinstripe suits, sits by a pool shirtless, bites a dog, and sports a mustache. I need to own this movie!"

Sadly, I couldn't refind this one, so I can't credit it to anyone.

It's a pretty confusing storyline (which is why I was too cowardly to write a summary). Even the couples are confused as to which guy belongs with which girl. The only one who really seems to know what's going on is Errol Flynn and even he gets double-crossed sometimes. To be honest, there are still things that confused me about this film but I love it anyway. I can't wait to own it. I'm not sure when I'll buy it but, I assure you, it will end up in my collection eventually.

Click on photo for source

This is, sadly, the only comedy starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. I think they were marvelous as comedic actors. I've seen de Havilland in A Midsummer Night's Dream (which is, by the way, the craziest rendition of that play that I've ever seen) but I've yet to see her or Flynn in any other comedies. If you've seen either in a comedy, please let me know! I'd love to see it!

And because I simply cannot resist, I'm embedding my favorite scene in the film. The title of the post is from this scene and, I'm not sure why, but I love that line! It just strikes me as so funny! Am I alone in this?

8 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, I've been DYING to watch this film! It looks so good, and I'm a huge fan of any Rosalind Russell comedy! It's too bad Errol and Olivia don't get together here :( Haha is that the dog from Thin Man, Asta, in the clip? Looks so great, I really want to watch it! If only I could get my hands on a copy...

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  2. Okay, I have to see this - even if Errol and Olivia don't wind up in each others arms!

    Olivia was in a comedy called "The Irish in Us," along with James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, but (as far as I know) the movie isn't on DVD.

    Dodge City has some very funny bits. I especially like the part when Olivia's character mistakes steers for cows. The looks on the faces of Errol and Frank McCugh are hilarious!

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  3. Im definitely going to look into watching this. For some reason I havent seen many Errol and Olivia films, but I certainly hope to change that. I love them both!

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  4. This movie sounds so fun! I just love Rosalind Russell. I will have to track down a copy of this.

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  5. This movie was so fun! Super cute and Patric Knowles is adorable!

    iamemmamusic.blogspot.com

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  6. This sounds so good! I want to see it now :) I love the Irene & Vernon Castle reference.. it's not my favorite either.

    Olivia de Havilland is WONDERFUL in the comedy It's Love I'm After with Bette Davis and Leslie Howard. It's definitely a must-see! :)

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  7. I don't want to incriminate the person who posted it and cause the film to be taken off the site, but if you click on the clip I've embedded, this person has uploaded the entire film. It's how I watched it.

    Mel, I thought that the dog was Asta too and I actually looked him up on IMDb. But it's not the same dog.

    Thank you Kate and Amanda for the movie suggestions! I will definitely check those out!

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  8. Hello! I just found your blog so sorry I'm commenting on an older post! I absolutely LOVE Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland! Can't beat them. I have Four's A Crowd, but have yet to see it the whole way through. (Must do that soon!!) Have you ever seen Footsteps in the Dark with Errol Flynn? He's great in it, and it's more of a comedy. Happy watching!
    ~Achaia

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