A Majority of One * (1961, Rosalind Russell, Alec Guinness, Ray Danton) – Classic Movie Review 11,224

‘Most honorable screen smash!’ ‘That joyful hit of the stage is the big, bright delight of the screen.’ ‘It’s even funnier than the play!’ ‘The heart-warmingest picture under the rising sun! The happiest pairing of stars in many-a-moon!’

Producer-director Mervyn LeRoy’s very rocky 1961 Technicolor shipboard romantic tale A Majority of One about the unlikely love affair between Jewish Brooklyn widow Mrs Bertha Jacoby (Rosalind Russell) and Japanese businessman Koichi Asano (Alec Guinness) is outlandishly long (at 156 minutes) and self-important.

With a Caucasian actor playing an Asian character, the casting peculiarities are all too obvious. Incredibly, Star Trek’s George Takei plays Guinness’s son.

Leonard Spigelgass’s screenplay is based on his play, which may have worked on stage, but on screen the humour is flat and the romance is never credible.

But Harry Stradling Sr was Oscar nominated for Best Cinematography, Color, and the film won three Golden Globes: for Best Motion Picture – Comedy, Best Actress – Comedy or Musical (Rosalind Russell) and Best Film Promoting International Understanding.

Also in the cast are Ray Danton, Madlyn Rhue, Mae Questel, Marc Marno, Gary Vinson, Sharon Hugueny, Frank Wilcox, Francis De Dales, Yuki Shimoda, Harriet E MacGibbon, Alan Mowbray, Lillian Adams, Shirley Citron, Dale Ishimoto, Tsuruko Kobayashi, Belle Mitchell, Robert Shield and Arlen Stuart.

A Majority of One is directed by Mervyn LeRoy, runs 156 minutes (or 121 minutes UK), is made by Mervyn LeRoy Productions Inc, released by Warner Bros, is written by Leonard Spigelgass, based on his play, is shot in Technicolor by Harry Stradling Sr, is produced by Mervyn LeRoy, is scored by Max Steiner and is designed by John Beckman.

It is shot at Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California; with exteriors in Tokyo, Japan.

Russell did her best work in the Forties: hence her Oscar nominations for My Sister Eileen (1942), Sister Kenny (1946) and Mourning Becomes Electra (1947), though her final nomination was for Auntie Mame (1958). The 1940 His Girl Friday sees her at her best. And she did win Golden Globes for A Majority of One (1961) and Gypsy (1962).

It is the final cinema role for celebrated character actor Alan Mowbray (as Captain Norcross), ending a movie career of more than 30 years.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,224

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