Once More, My Darling *** (1949, Robert Montgomery, Ann Blyth, Jane Cowl) – Classic Movie Review 11,720

Director Robert Montgomery’s 1949 film Once More, My Darling is a charming, well-acted screwball romantic comedy about a cute young socialite Marita Connell (Ann Blyth) with stolen Nazi gems, who is wooed by high-powered attorney Collier ‘Collie’ Laing (Robert Montgomery), a confirmed bachelor many years her senior.

Collie, who is still living with his mother Mrs Laing (Jane Cowl), has been unexpectedly called up by the US Army Reserve as captain and is charged by the US army to find the jewel thief bad guy who gave her the jewelry.

An often amusing, witty script is niftily handled in a highly effective star pairing and star Montgomery makes a nimble job of the direction, too.

The far-fetched if familiar yarn, based on the story Come Be My Love by Robert Carson, works surprisingly well here, thanks mainly to the expertly laid-on charisma of the star duo.

The cast are Robert Montgomery as Collier ‘Collie’ Laing, Ann Blyth as Marita Connell, Jane Cowl as Mrs Laing, Taylor Holmes, Charles McGraw, Lillian Randolph, Roland Winters, Steven Geray, John Ridgley, Maurice Cass, Don Beddoe, Louise Lorimer, Wilton Graff, Sally Corner, Dee J Thompson, George M Carleton, Edna Holland, Ray Teal, Bert Hicks, George Chandler, Bert Conway, Jack Gargan, John Harmon, Dell Henderson, Phyllis Kennedy, James Linn, Maurice Marsac, Jack Overman, Barbara Payton, Ann Pearce, John Pickard, William Wedder, and Isabel Withers.

Once More, My Darling is directed by Robert Montgomery, runs 92 minutes, is made by Neptune Productions, is released by Universal-International, is written by Robert Carson and Oscar Saul, is shot in black and white by Franz Planer, is produced by Joan Harrison, is scored by Elizabeth Firestone, and is designed by Robert Clatworthy.

It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording (Leslie I Carey).

Films directed by Robert Montgomery: Lady in the Lake (1947), Ride the Pink Horse (1947), Once More, My Darling (1949), Your Witness (1950) and The Gallant Hours (1960).

 © Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,720

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