Hands Across the Table

source: Hands Across the Table

Hands Across the Table

Watching Carole Lombard makes the whole film worth seeing, but it is not an otherwise pleasant experience. There are touches one must see, such as the expression on the face of Peter, butler to Allen Macklin, as the manicurist departs. That should reach the heart of any empathetic viewer. Ralph Bellamy has one of his best roles, though it's a thankless one. Fred MacMurray looked great and his character could have been likable, except he really isn't -- at least to me. Seeing Marie Prevost in her role as Nona was rather shocking, at least to one who had seen her as "The Godless Girl." She showed she had a lot of talent for character roles. Watch it, sure, but be prepared to be disappointed in the movie as a whole. Director Leisen has done better, much better.

Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray have a rare chemistry that can closely be compared to that between William Powell and Myrna Loy. Both are excellent as gold diggers trying to help each other get ahead. This is one of the best romantic comedies I've ever seen!

If Clark Gable couldn't resist Carole Lombard, what chance has Fred MacMurray? Or Ralph Bellamy? Or even William Demarest? Answer: None. So that takes care of the plot of the whole film. Mind you, it's still worth watching. MacMurray has a nice flair for light comedy (he could play drama forcefully too), while Carole is most attractively photographed and costumed. In fact, everything in and about the movie sparkles. The sets sparkle, the acting sparkles, the dialogue sparkles... Only the plot itself fails to ignite. I mean, we all know how it's going to turn out. And with the one exception of Ralph Bellamy, even the characters on the screen know. But director Leisen keeps it all moving along most agreeably towards that inevitable, foregone conclusion.

A pretty good romantic comedy directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray and Ralph Bellamy. Lombard is a manicurist who doesn't want to work for a living and marry someone rich. Lombard meets Bellamy, who is a millionaire and also a cripple, as a client and she isn't interested in him but he loves her. Lombard then meets MacMurray whom she thinks is rich at first but finds out he's actually poor but is engaged to a rich lady. This isn't a very well known comedy but it's pretty good and for once Bellamy doesn't play a clueless loser but this time actually knows what's going on even though he still loses.

...then you ought to rent this movie. She is just adorable, and charming beyond belief, as avowed gold-digger Regi Allen. All the supporting players here are wonderful. However, male lead Fred MacMurray comes off -- at least to me -- as a very cold fish. His endless "humorous" comments have an angry undercurrent, and the script, while admitting the guy is very shallow (shallow, angry -- sounds like a keeper), also insists he's this wacky dreamboat. When you get down to it, all he has to offer Regi over the love-struck, crippled Allen Macklyn (Ralph Bellamy, playing what I think is the first of his many second male leads dumped by the leading lady for the first male lead) is that he can walk.

"Hands Across the Table" serves as a great showcase for the comedy talents of Carole Lombard. She and Fred MacMurray work well together. This was their first of 4 teamings. There's a funny bit by William Demarest and great support from Ruth Donnelly and especially Marie Prevost as Lombard's pal Nona. All in all, a light, funny and enjoyable film.

Fred MacMurray's line readings here are simply impeccable--on par with, oh, say, Cary Grant in His Girl Friday. Another not wholly sympathetic leading role in a comedy. Unfortunately, the movie ends up being kind of muddle-headed toward the end. Still, the chemistry between the two stars is fully evident, and I like that the movie doesn't crassly gloss over the Bellamy character's hurt and resentment. It gives the movie body. The domestic scenes between Lombard and MacMurray are particular good--sort of a warm-up, too, for what Liesen does with Jean Arthur and Ray Milland in their glorious cohabitation scenes at the Hotel Louie in Liesen's Easy Living. Liesen is an unfairly forgotten director of romantic comedies. Besides this one, and Easy Living, check out also Remember the Night and Midnight.

Carole Lombard was a woman ahead of her time. She was no dumb blonde. She was a brilliant, beautiful, and talented actress in comedy or drama. In this film, she plays a New York City manicurist who believes the key to happiness is marrying a man with money. She becomes a regular manicurist to wheelchair bound Ralph Bellamy in a charming performance and courted by Fred McMurray's character, Theodore Drew III, who is unfortunately engaged to a wealthy pineapple heiress. After missing his cruise ship to Bermuda, Drew stays with Lombard's Regi Allen character in her apartment. There they have their share of laughs and moments to bring them together. Anyway, you can't help but root for them or hope for Regi's future. The cast is first rate with Carole Lombard, Fred McMurray, Ralph Bellamy, and Ruth Donnelly. Astrid Allwyn is fine as Vivian Snowden. The film is entertaining too at times.