"The Pleasure of His Company" tells the story of an absentee father (Fred Astaire) who after leaving when his daughter Jessica (Debbie Reynolds) was a little girl, returns a few days before her wedding to Roger (Tab Hunter).
According to his ex-wife (Lili Palmer) "in fifteen years he's written to Jessica three times, he's remembered her birthday twice, and he's never heard of Christmas".
Playwrights Samuel Taylor and Cornelia Otis Skinner take a disturbingly light view of this, and expect the audience to find the absentee dad a lovable heel, despite that after basically forgetting her for years, he's now come back to "rescue" her from the boy she loves by seducing her - there's no better word for it – to join him travelling the world, and stands a chance since his daughter has something of crush – there's no better word for it – on her absentee dad.
The fact that the movie is an entertaining diversion is due to the professionalism of Taylor and Skinner, but more so to some very good performances from Debbie Reynolds, too old for the part (likewise Astaire) and particularly Lili Palmer showing true comic flair. Astaire I found irritating but that might have much to do with his part which is largely caricature.
There is one very short dialogue in which Tab Hunter confronts Astaire about his absenteeism and idle life. They are a welcome, but very brief few seconds of sanity and reality.
Tab Hunter acquits himself very well, showing signs of the actor he could have become. But sadly this was to be his last "A" film. Tired of being exploited by his studio he took the bold step of buying out his contract, in the hope of being offered more serious roles. By that point he had the talent and certainly the looks; perhaps it was the silly name that got in the way.
"The Pleasure of His Company" remains a mixed bag. Worth seeing for the actors, but leaving something of a bad taste.
According to his ex-wife (Lili Palmer) "in fifteen years he's written to Jessica three times, he's remembered her birthday twice, and he's never heard of Christmas".
Playwrights Samuel Taylor and Cornelia Otis Skinner take a disturbingly light view of this, and expect the audience to find the absentee dad a lovable heel, despite that after basically forgetting her for years, he's now come back to "rescue" her from the boy she loves by seducing her - there's no better word for it – to join him travelling the world, and stands a chance since his daughter has something of crush – there's no better word for it – on her absentee dad.
The fact that the movie is an entertaining diversion is due to the professionalism of Taylor and Skinner, but more so to some very good performances from Debbie Reynolds, too old for the part (likewise Astaire) and particularly Lili Palmer showing true comic flair. Astaire I found irritating but that might have much to do with his part which is largely caricature.
There is one very short dialogue in which Tab Hunter confronts Astaire about his absenteeism and idle life. They are a welcome, but very brief few seconds of sanity and reality.
Tab Hunter acquits himself very well, showing signs of the actor he could have become. But sadly this was to be his last "A" film. Tired of being exploited by his studio he took the bold step of buying out his contract, in the hope of being offered more serious roles. By that point he had the talent and certainly the looks; perhaps it was the silly name that got in the way.
"The Pleasure of His Company" remains a mixed bag. Worth seeing for the actors, but leaving something of a bad taste.