SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

JohnHowardReid Made at Denham and Pinewood Studios. Producer: Clive Brook. Executive producer: Sydney Box. Independent Producers. Copyright 10 February 1945 by English Films, Inc. New York opening at the Republic: 27 January 1945. U.S. release through English Films (later Eagle Lion). U.K. release through J. Arthur Rank's General Film Distributors: 22 May 1944. Australian release through Gaumont-British-Dominions/20th Century-Fox: 23 August 1945. 80 minutes. Originally banned in Australia, the version finally shown was "reconstructed" to 66 minutes. SYNOPSIS: A trial marriage between two couples results in humorous complications. NOTES: The original 1930 On Approval, directed by and starring Tom Walls, had taken big money in Australia at a time when unemployment was rife and those on welfare were legally forbidden to enter a cinema. Also at a time when British films were not a quarter as popular generally with Oz patrons as in 1945. The new 1944 On Approval was a sure-fire bet to break ticket-selling records. The timing was perfect. The war was almost over. The men would soon be home, and what better escapism to welcome them back to civvy street? But then the censor stepped in. COMMENT: Directed with remarkable fluidity and style, this elegant, polished, witty, never-faltering comedy of manners is a constant joy from go to whoa. Partly our pleasure derives from Lonsdale's constantly sparkling quips and his delightfully contrasted characterizations. Partly as said from Brook's imaginative, Lubitsch-like direction with camera movements themselves contributing to the fun. And partly from the really side-splitting performances contributed by all the players, the principals especially, and cameo artists Elliot Mason and Hay Petrie. Wonderful entertainment for connoisseur and casual picturegoer alike, it's a marvelous treat to finally see the full-length On Approval.

bkoganbing No one should pass on seeing any film with Beatrice Lillie. And I have to confess I was looking forward to seeing On Approval which is a Frederick Lonsdale comedy of manners which made it to Broadway after Drury Lane in London in the middle twenties. But while I saw a faithful adaption of the rather dated play, I did not see the madcap Beatrice Lillie in this at all.Bea and Googie Withers play a couple of wealthy widows who are wealthy because their late husbands presumably made some good fortunes in whatever business they were in. A couple of aristocrats with cash flow problems played by Clive Brook and Roland Culver are looking to marry and live in a lifestyle they're accustomed to. To go to work doesn't appeal to these two twits at all. But a nice marriage to money is a lot easier.The play itself is all right if your taste runs to these kind of stories. It tries to be Oscar Wilde like, without any of Wilde's wit. And Lillie gives a good performance. But I was sitting at my computer screen waiting for her to rollerskate across the floor or break into her double damask dinner napkins routine. You can find that in the Bing Crosby film Dr. Rhythm which Beatrice Lillie co-starred with him.In fact DEMAND that TCM show that film if you want to see what Bea Lillie was all about.

Terrell-4 On Approval is an extremely amusing comedy of upper class British manners. It is wickedly malicious without being mean-spirited. The four leads play off each other flawlessly. Unfortunately, it seems to be one of those forgotten gems. The DVD release awhile back may have given it some new recognition. (And the DVD transfer is first rate.)Clive Brook, who also wrote and directed the film, is priceless as an aristocrat who finds it entirely reasonable to take his pleasures at the expense of others. He was a major star in the Thirties, but made only one more movie, The List of Adrian Messenger, after this one. At 76 he proved he still could hold his own against all comers, including George C. Scott.

adykstra Thanks to Blackhawk Films and Image Entertainment for the release of this rarely seen British gem. It is refreshing to see a comedy based on language and characters. Only in Britain would Beatrice Lillie have been given a starring role (along with Googie Withers in a wise supporting role) in a film like this. Like George Cukor's THE WOMEN and Mankiewicz's ALL ABOUT EVE, this is a comedy you can return to time and again and pick up something new every time. Hats off to Clive Brook!