Search - His Double Life on DVD

Roland Young and Lillian Gish Charm in Gentle Comedy

"Tee" | LA | 03/11/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"HIS DOUBLE LIFE is an utterly charming and gentle sophisticated comedy romance starring Roland Young and the legendary Lillian Gish, the latter in a very rare female lead role in a sound motion picture.

Young stars as legendary British painter Priam Farrell who is a sheepish, anti-social recluse, unseen by even his agent despite his fame and importance. When his devoted valet Henry Leek suddenly takes ill and dies, the authorities presume the valet is in fact Farrell and the timid, colorless Young is thought to be the valet, even by his own cousin who hasn't seen him since childhood!! Young takes this as a chance to escape the bondage of his unwanted fame but unknown to him the valet has been engaged in a correspondence courtship with lovely spinster Lillian Gish. The only photo of Leek she has is one that also pictures Young so when she meets Young she completely believes he is the valet!! Meek Roland Young finds warm and gentle Lillian a wonderful companion and they fall in love but she doesn't believe his claim to be the real Priam Farrell so he goes along with the deception even with her. Eventually they marry but experience financial difficulties which lead Young to anonomyously sell paintings on the side, trouble is they fall into the hands of an art expert who is certain these are works by the "late" Priam Farrell.

This is a very gentle comedy played to perfection by two extraordinary talented stars. And how charming to see a classic movie that centers on a lovely romance between two middle-aged players. This is overwhelmingly Young's picture but the great Gish is wonderful too and has a truly delightful sequence involving tea with two twin priests and a rather bewildered old gal (Lucy Beaumont) convinced Young is her long-lost husband. The film print of this Alpha release is verygood but has it's brief bad spots and obvious film repairs like many of their releases. Still, I was happy to see this endearing little movie."