Search - Unfaithfully Yours (Criterion Collection) on DVD

My favorite comedy

hardly_b | Palo Alto, CA USA | 08/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the 5th (and last) of Sturges' truly inspired comedies (the others being "Hail the Conquering Hero", "Miracle of Morgan's Creek", "The Lady Eve", and "The Palm Beach Story") and its failure at the box office is probably why it was the last. I find it incomprehensible that it failed -- it starts a little slowly, perhaps (although I actually quite like the beginning), but the last 30-45 minutes (after the concert) is just heaven. Basically the movie is a slapstick comedy, but surely the most sophisticated slapstick comedy ever, and what I find astonishing is how perfectly cast Rex Harrison turned out to be in a pratfalling role (?!?!?!?). My kids and I laugh out loud just thinking about the scenes in this movie, must less watching it. If you haven't seen this movie and ever liked ANY movie made before 1950, you should watch it. It really is fun for the entire family, and belongs in any video collection."

Classic Struges comedy finally comes to DVD

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 05/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In "Unfaithfully Yours" Rex Harrison plays a conductor who imagines what he would do to his wife (who he believes to be cheating on him)during a performance. Unfortunately, he discovers that real life never works as smoothly as one's fantasies. A classic Preston Sturges comedy, "Unfaithfully Yours" captures the brilliant comedy director in top form. Although there was an anemic remake with Dudley Moore in 1984 (with a screenplay co-written by Valerie Curtain the cousin of Jane Curtain of "Saturday Night Live" fame and one of the original cast members of "Three's Company"), all it does is prove not to mess with a classic film.


This new Criterion edition has some really cool extras and the image quality is very, very good. The audio Audio commentary by Sturges scholars James Harvey, Diane Jacobs, and Brian Henderson are fascinating but I honestly preferred the video appreciation by Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) as well as the video interview with Sandy Sturges. There's also an essay by Jonathan Lethem, a photo gallery and correspondence on the production of the film. This is one of Sturges' greatest black comedies and well worth picking up.

Now all Ihave to do is wait for my other favorite Sturges films-"Hail the Conquering Hero" and "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" on DVD (Oh, and "Christmas in July" would also be much appreciated as well). His classics are finally trickling out and I'm quite happy that they've made a much belated appearence on DVD."

One of Sturges' very best

D. Chiapello | Phoenix, AZ United States | 12/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Only The Lady Eve forces me to edge this movie out of number-one spot among Preston Sturges' comedies. The dialogue is snappy as ever (Doltish husband: "Too much temperament! Give me the simple viewpoint!" His wisecracking wife: "You've got it, kid. You don't have to yearn for it.") but the slapstick of the finale is cleverer by far than any in his other movies. The use of music is inspired, both in Harrison's concert revenge-fantasies and in his later attempts to put them into action, when the music is spiked with comic effects. A little slow to get started, this movie soon enough develops a quirky, unpredictable, and completely fascinating story line. Don't deprive yourself of seeing this!"

Unfaithfully Yours

John Farr | 09/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Preston Sturges conceived, produced, wrote and directed this comic symphony at the peak of his creative powers, deftly combining fast, stinging dialogue with moments of inspired physical comedy. Harrison is in his element, with all his trademark cantankerousness on full display (reminiscent of a much younger Henry Higgins) and Darnell's an ever tolerant vision. Look for immortal comic Edgar Kennedy as a music loving detective.
"