Simply A Masterpiece

Really Surprised!

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

On the first occasion that I saw this movie on television, I thought it extremely hilarious. Unfortunately, Ben Hecht's screenplay does not stand up so well on a second viewing, although Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke's splendid direction does come across as no wit less inspired. Another point in the movie's favor is that Claudette Colbert is most attractively photographed by Oliver T. Marsh – and Marsh's superlative handling comes across every time you see the movie! Colbert was a real pest when it came to photography and she always – despite her limited knowledge and her incorrect assessment of the angles that would depict her at her most alluring – did her level best to take charge of the camera and lighting herself. But she met her match with Mr. Marsh, and I'm sure that Van Dyke also would have taken an extremely dim view of any of Claudette's photographic orders or "suggestions". Yes, It's a Wonderful World is certainly a big-budget affair with excellent sets and a great music score and even some inspired film editing. But where it does fall down, to my surprise, is in the costumes arena. Adrian was a top designer in this field, but I thought his gowns for Claudette in this picture were both inappropriate and dated. But I guess you can't have everything you want in this wonderful world!

Private detective Jimmy Stewart is sentenced to prison for helping a client accused of murder. On the train ride to the slammer, Stewart escapes. He takes poetess Claudette Colbert hostage as he tries to follow a lead that may exonerate his client. She's resistant at first but quickly becomes excited by the adventure and decides to help him.Fun screwball comedy with stars in top form and backed up by wonderful cast. Jimmy Stewart is great and has nice chemistry with Claudette Colbert, who's in her element in this type of movie. Good comedic support from Guy Kibbee, Nat Pendleton, and Edgar Kennedy. Frances Drake and Sidney Blackmer play the villains. The bit where Stewart poses as a scout leader is a hilarious highlight. An underrated gem.

This was Jimmy Stewart's last film before "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" and it's easy to see why this one has been forgotten.Stewart plays an obnoxious, (yes, Jimmy Stewart is obnoxious), detective who is arrested for hiding his client while he tries to prove he's been framed. He escapes and kidnaps poetess, (yes, poetess), Claudette Colbert to aid his escape, (she has a car). Inexplicably, she falls for him and aids his escape. But first he has to disguise himself with absurdly thick glasses and do a fake Alabama accent, etc. etc. None of it is funny. There are some impressive talents associated with this film. Their reputations are based on other films. Stewart is totally unappealing and Colbert fatuous.

I am with the critical reviewers here -- this doesn't have the right feel. We are all so accustomed to seeing Jimmy Stewart as a wonderful actor, but in this, his role doesn't work. The fault lies either with the screenwriter or with Stewart himself, but for a screwball comedy to work, the lead characters have to have a kind of happy zest, a playfulness, even if it is underneath some more obvious motive like getting money or getting one-up on someone who's put you down, and his character just doesn't have it. Claudette Colbert, by contrast, is wonderful -- just what is needed. The plot, the setting, the other characters, all are excellent for screwball comedy. The problem is Jimmy Stewart -- earnest, annoyed with just about everyone, and no hint of playfulness.