This is a one of a kind effort from George Stephens who was to really somber up when he came back from photographing the devastation and after shocks of WWII, especially the concentration camps. What he witnessed there kicked the humour clear out of the man.
Jean Arthur and Joel Mccrae are amazing in this, ably abetted by Charles Coburn who got an Oscar for best supporting actor.
The premise is the very real housing shortage in Washington during the Second World War and how Jean Arthur sublets a portion of her apartment to Charles who in turn secretly sublets his sublet to Joel, almost on a whim.
Jean is a very organized person and one of the many jokes in the film centres around her schedules, bathroom, showering, coffee making, etc. in the morning, unwittingly foiled by a bumbling Charles.
Sparks fly once Joel enters the picture. And a very real eroticism is generated. Witness the gift and touching of the leather travelling case and the scene on the steps which goes right up there in the 10 Top Romantic scenes of all time. And the scene of eye-talk at the nightclub in front of Jean's fiancé. Breathtaking. Joel just can't keep his hands off her.
9 out of 10. An absolutely splendid romp and boy that choir of the homeless at the end. And some of the timing gags. Not to be missed for the fans of the forties B&W's.
Jean Arthur and Joel Mccrae are amazing in this, ably abetted by Charles Coburn who got an Oscar for best supporting actor.
The premise is the very real housing shortage in Washington during the Second World War and how Jean Arthur sublets a portion of her apartment to Charles who in turn secretly sublets his sublet to Joel, almost on a whim.
Jean is a very organized person and one of the many jokes in the film centres around her schedules, bathroom, showering, coffee making, etc. in the morning, unwittingly foiled by a bumbling Charles.
Sparks fly once Joel enters the picture. And a very real eroticism is generated. Witness the gift and touching of the leather travelling case and the scene on the steps which goes right up there in the 10 Top Romantic scenes of all time. And the scene of eye-talk at the nightclub in front of Jean's fiancé. Breathtaking. Joel just can't keep his hands off her.
9 out of 10. An absolutely splendid romp and boy that choir of the homeless at the end. And some of the timing gags. Not to be missed for the fans of the forties B&W's.