That Uncertain Feeling (1941)

Even the great Lubitsch can't hit one out of the park every At Bat; on the other hand even bush league Lubitsch is light years ahead of Major League Hitchcock let alone the likes of Mitchell Liesen, so this lightweight entry is still worth the price of admission. Eve Arden had yet to come into her own but she still registers strongly in a supporting role whilst the three leads, Melvyn Douglas, Merle Oberon and Burgess Meredith keep things bubbling along. The plot has been around the block more than once - in this case the source material is a play by Victorien Sardou, active in French Theatre around the same time as Georges Feydeau, who had a higher international profile - but Lubitssch is still able to extract a respectable mileage out of it.

I read that this film was a failure at the box office, and I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps it seemed like a throw-back to those mid-1930s films where Hollywood seemed to think that the American public was obsessed with the upper class. When I first began watching, I almost turned it off because that's what I thought was coming. But I stuck with it, and I found that this is a rather pleasant comedy about a somewhat boring man who is boring his wife in their everyday life, to the point where she has an affair and the husband and wife decide to divorce...well, almost.Melvyn Douglas doesn't have much to do for the first third of the film...but after all, he is supposed to be boring. No, that part of the film belongs to the lovely Merle Oberon. But, Douglas' part strengthens for the remainder of the film, and he does nicely, as does Oberon as a rather spoiled wife. Who is the third side of the triangle? Burgess Meredith as a rather insufferable pianist. It's interesting to watch Meredith here. He seems strong in the scenes where he is speaking, but a little awkward in the scenes where he is silent. And, I always enjoy watching character actor Harry Davenport, who never disappoints. Eve Arden is here, also, as a secretary, but her part is crucial, though rather small.This probably isn't going to end up on your DVD shelf, but if you like romantic comedies from the 30s...yes, I know this came out in 1941, but it seems older...then you'll probably like this enough to watch...once.

Suffering from hiccups and insomnia, beautiful Manhattan socialite Merle Oberon (as Jill) feels neglected by successful insurance peddling husband Melvyn Douglas (as Larry Baker). While seeing psychoanalyst Alan Mowbray (as Vengard), Ms. Oberon meets fellow patient Burgess Meredith (as Alexander Sebastian), a troubled pianist. As Oberon and Mr. Meredith grow closer, Mr. Douglas tries "reverse psychology" to win back his wife. Meanwhile, secretary Eve Arden (as Sally Aikens) may move in on Douglas.This lesser Ernst Lubitsch offering was a re-make of the director's silent "Kiss Me Again" (1925), which made the critically polled "Film Daily" and "Motion Picture" magazine's annual year's best lists. Unfortunately, the original is presently a "lost" film. "That Uncertain Feeling" was a letdown after "Ninotchka" (1939) and "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940). But, it's definitely not awful. Douglas is in good form, particularly during the last act. Oberon wears some sexy outfits, especially during the early running.****** That Uncertain Feeling (4/17/41) Ernst Lubitsch ~ Merle Oberon, Melvyn Douglas, Burgess Meredith, Eve Arden

In "That Uncertain Feeling", good performances by the three lead actors give some life to a rather simplistic story. It is a mildly amusing movie, but there isn't enough to the plot or the script to make it any more than that.Melvyn Douglas and Merle Oberon play a married couple who seem to be reasonably content, but a chance meeting between the wife and an eccentric pianist (Burgess Meredith) suddenly threatens their whole marriage. Rather than choosing direct confrontation, the husband tries to use psychology to turn the situation in his favor, leading to some comic situations that only partially come off.The three leads are all pretty good, especially Meredith, who has the liveliest role. And Ernst Lubitsch directs with his usual dapper style. But there isn't really much of a story, and the behavior of the characters, while generally humorous, is too often completely implausible. So the movie is really never more than mildly entertaining.This will probably only be of particular interest to those who are fans of the director or one of the stars.