If ever Hollywood picked a movie title that nailed its subject right on the head, this was it. "Appointment for Love" is a hilarious comedy romance, one that this cinephile recently discovered after decades of watching films. This is a sophisticated comedy made by Universal before it moved into the top echelon of studios. It apparently wasn't widely distributed, and when the U. S. entered WW II barely a month after this film hit theaters, it seems to have been forgotten. But it wasn't lost and I recently watched it on DVD.
The humor is spread among actions and situations along with dialog - but, without antics, pratfalls or funny accidents. The dialog drives it all and ties it all together. And, part of the genius of the script is that the scenes and conversations go on, with instances of seeming disregard by one character for another's sharp quip or satirical comment. It's as though it were over the other's head, or just completely missed or ignored. And that makes those scenes that much funnier - because it's not over the head or missed by one who's watching the film.
Universal nabbed the perfect couple to play the nearing middle-aged leads in this delicious farce. Charles Boyer is the prominent author and director of Broadway plays, Andre Cassil. Margaret Sullavan is the dedicated medical doctor, Jane Alexander. The supporting cast is first rate with wonderful performances and humor provided by Eugene Pallette, Rita Johnson, Cecil Kellaway, Reginald Denny, Roman Bohnen, Ruth Terry and others.
This is a riotously funny movie. It has humorous takes on some customs, practices and traditions. It develops role reversals of customary behaviors and plays them for wonderful laughter. The dialog is peppered with tongue-in-cheek comments - a forte of Boyer in many of his straight-faced comedy roles. Boyer's Andre gets his comeuppance when he tries to make wife, Dr. Jane, jealous, and instead he gets horribly jealous.
There are a couple scenarios that are among the funniest of their kind in all of filmdom. The first is of Andre's medical exam by Dr. Alexander, with Dr. Gunther looking on and in on the conversation. And, the scenes with Gus Schilling as the elevator operator are the funniest elevator scenario I can ever recall.
This surely is one of the best sophisticated comedies of all time - if not the funniest. Only Boyer and Sullavan could possibly pull this one off as believable, which makes it that much funnier. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Dr. Jane Alexander, "Have you ever been on a diet, Mr. Cassil?" Andre Cassil, "No, no. I always say it's not what you eat, but with whom you eat."
Dr. Jane, "Would you hop up and down on one foot, please?"
Andre Cassil, in ambulance, "Now we're going to the hospital, and we 're going to live happily ever after." Dr. Jane, "Now we're going to MacArther's gym. I'm gonna get Mike to give you a few boxing lessons." Andre, "There were two of them." Dr. Jane, "That is no excuse for leading with your right."
Dr. Jane, "You know, jealousy is a very simple thing. Physiologically, it's merely the adrenal glands pumping adrenaline into the bloodstream. Of course, it has a psychological trigger..."
Dr. Jane, "Listen, if you ever catch me being jealous, I give you leave to put on your tiger skin, pick up your club and beat me back to my senses."
Dr. Jane, "When we were married, you knew that I was a doctor and that I was going on with my work." Andre, "Yes, but I didn't know I would have to make an appointment every time I wanted to see you."
Dr. Jane, "Andre, look. The most important thing is for our marriage to last." Andre, "You think so?" Dr. Jane, "Yes!" Andre, "Well, I think the most important thing is for our marriage to begin."
Andre, walking into elevator, "Seventeen." Gus, elevator operator, "Shall we wait for 22B?" Andre, "No.... I suppose you think I'm crazy." Gus, "Now wait a minute, mister, I didn't say a word."
Dr. Jane, "Hope I'm not too early." Andre, "No, no. I always get up in the middle of the night to have breakfast."
Andre, shaking Hastings, who's in bed, "I married a monster."
Andre, "She lives on the 22nd floor. I live on the 17th floor. And she won't come down." Hastings, "She won't?" Andre, "No. And I won't go up." Hastings, "What do you want me to do? You don't need a producer. You need a lawyer."
Michael Dailey, "I don't like that at all. I walk around the corner. Go to Brazil, and the moment my back is turned, you marry the first beggar that comes along. Pardon me old fellow," looking at Andre.
Michael Dailey, "Might have turned out to be a great doctor." Dr. Jane, "But I'm still practicing." Michael turns to Andre, "Can't even support you, huh?"
Andre, "If he had said 'old fellow' one more time, I think I would have killed him with my bare hands." Dr. Jane, " It's a good thing you didn't try because he has muscles like an ox." Andre, "Oh. Oh, he has muscles like an ox?" Dr. Jane, "He's really very nice, Andre." Andre, "It's a matter of whether or not you like oxes." Dr. Jane, "Ox-en." Andre, "Oxen - terrible word."
Andre, "Would you like to hear some music?" Edith Meredith, "Oh, sure, put it on.... I'll turn off the lights." Andre, "Hmm?" Edith, "Well, I can hear better in the dark."
Edith Meredith, "If, um, if you ever get tired of looking at the East River, you can come up to my place and... look out my window... and see the Hudson River."
George Hastings, "Walking around at 10 o'clock in the morning. What are all these people doing up?"
