Just what I expected

Absolutely brilliant

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

A farcical fantasy musical, despite the fact that a number of songs were deleted in the final cut. Although Lubitsch alone was given official credit as the director, in fact, he died part way through filming, being replaced by the quite different Otto Preminger. Preminger has taken a lot of heat for the deficiencies of the film, which many believe would have largely been avoided if Lubitsch could have finished it. Nonetheless, it still offers sumptuous gowns and surroundings, especially when Betty Grable is in the spotlight. Betty stated this was her least favorite film she did. But, I say she shouldn't be ashamed of her part, nor of the film as a whole......Some of you may be turned off by the fantasy of wall portraits of ancestors coming alive around midnight, and cavorting through the castle. This aspect somewhat reminds me of a rather similar plot device used in "I Married a Witch" and the later musical "Brigadoon". Both these other films featured people or ghosts who had lived some centuries before suddenly reappearing. The one was well received by contemporary audiences, while the other, like the present film, was not. My impression is that, today, the present film enjoys a greater regard by many viewers. It's currently available on DVD and free at YouTube. I saw it on FXM...... Betty plays both her current self, as Countess Angelica, of mythical Bergami, in SE Europe, as well as Francesca: her look-alike distant ancestor of 300 years ago, and whose portrait hangs in the main hallway of the castle. Around midnight, Francesca and the other portrait ancestors may become animated and descend to the floor, where they may frolic with each other. Since Angelina and Francesca look the same, except perhaps their clothes, one has to keep on their toes to make sure which they are currently looking at, or whether it's Angelica in a dream by Hungarian Colonel Teglash(Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) I'm still not certain about some cases......Of the several songs "Ooh! What I'll do to that Wild Hungarian" is good, and is sung by Francesca(or is it Angelina) near the beginning , and again at the finale, accompanied by dancing by the portrait ancestors. At one point , Francesca(I assume) sings "The Melody Has to be Right" to a sleeping Angelina(I assume). At the climax when Angelina and Col. Teglash are cementing their love for each other, they sing and dance to the Academy Award nominee; "This is the Moment", which is quite charming.......Cesar Romero has the role of Angelina's temporary husband(to be annulled). As usual, in the end, he winds up the loser in the romance department despite being quite handsome, probably dictated by his Latino heritage. Walter Abel is second in command, under Teglash or the Duke(the latter 300 years ago)., who bosses him around.

While the credits say that this is an Ernst Lubitsch film, he actually died during the making of this film. Otto Preminger completed the film and I don't know whether he's to blame, Lubitsch is or both of them. Regardless, it's a very poor film...and the film that Betty Grable hated the most. It also is a movie that lost a ton of money at the box office....and after seeing the picture, I can understand why. The story is just a muddled mess.The story is set in the mid-19th century and a Contessa Angelina (Grable) just married handsome Count Mario (Cesar Romero). However, the Hungarians invade her Italian state and Mario is forced to flee. The leader of the Hungarians is the Colonel (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) and he's instantly smitten with her. Oddly, while the Contessa cannot reciprocate, a painting of a distant relative who JUST HAPPENS TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE HER (a stupid cliché, I know) falls for him and comes out of the painting to pitch woo to the Colonel. There's more to this goofy film than this...but isn't that dopey enough to let you know why this movie is a mess?!Although the film looks great with its lovely color and sets, the story often is very dopey and makes no sense. It all just seems like a silly excuse to sing and dance. And, the overall film is a tad embarrassing at times...so I can understand Grable's feelings about this one!

THE LADY IN ERMINE certainly has its moments, but it can't decide if it wants to be a romance or a comedy. Parts of it are very funny indeed and had me laughing out loud, while others seem to fall as flat as a lead balloon.Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is handsome and dashing, as usual, providing a much needed surge of energy when he is on screen, but Betty Grable seems uncomfortable in her double role. She's far more enjoyable to watch as the ancestor than she is as the descendant. The opportunity for her to display her most valuable assets (her legs) is limited.20th Century Fox has surrounded the two leads with good character actors from its stable, including Cesar Romero showing some versatility, Walter Abel in two roles, and Harry Davenport as the likable old retainer. Reginald Gardiner is wasted as Alberto.It's a shame that the songs are so ordinary and mostly forgettable. Was this the best Fox, the studio that brought us STATE FAIR, could do? All in all, you're not missing much if you don't see it, but it's a pleasantly diverting way to pass an hour and thirty minutes.

In 1948 this was my all-time favorite movie. Betty Grable's costumes were so ravishing that I wanted to grow up to be her and dress like that. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., was irresistible as the dashing Hungarian officer. Silly and fluffy as this movie might appear at first, when I was eight years old it seemed to me to say something important about relations between men and women. I saw it again the other day; I was surprised to find that it still did.