The Grass Is Greener

Amazon.com

Cary Grant is the befuddled English earl casually puttering around his tourist attraction of a grand old estate in casual dress while a bull of an American millionaire (Robert Mitchum) crashes into his life and seduces Grant's sophisticated lady (Deborah Kerr). It's pure fantasy, of course, with its cool, cultured lovers swapping witty banter with the same calm they swap gunshots in an old-fashioned duel. Have adultery and jealousy ever been so civilized? Stanley Donen never shakes this very British drawing-room comedy of manners free of its talky, stagebound source or its deliberate snail's pace, but he does manages to bring a lightness that softens the wit with an American lilt. Ultimately, though, it's all about a crack cast in fine form: Mitchum's sleepy-eyed insolence, Kerr's easy elegance, Jean Simmons's flighty outrageousness, and especially the charm and measured grace that is Cary Grant. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

A Gentleman's Fight For His Wife.......2007-06-08

Cary Grant and Jean Simmons are pictured on the cover of the DVD, but this is a movie about Robert Mitchum (an American) trying to win the heart of an English gentleman's wife (Deborah Kerr), and his (Grant) reaction to that attempt. Jean Simmons has a very small role in the movie as a friend of the wife.

The plot seems contrived at times, and were it not for such outstanding actors in these roles, the movie would fall flat on its face. However, when you have Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, and Robert Mitchum in the same movie, it is well worth watching.

I doubt any of us would chose the method that the husband (Grant) chooses to save his marriage, but how many of us live in a house that is so large private tours are shown through it just to pay the taxes.

Sophisticated Comedy.......2006-02-20

The combination of Grant and Kerr is wonderful on the screen. I loved the mix of British humor and civility. Adding the dash of American brashness in Robert Mitchum, one can enjoy watching the wheels fall off. A very enjoyable movie!

This is a comedy?.......2005-02-15

Seriously, I didn't even think that this was a comedy until I came here and saw people saying "it wasn't funny." I got it as part of a boxed set of Cary Grant films (purchased here), and it's the only dud of the lot.

There was one scene that, I will grant you, was light and entertaining. Not laugh out loud, but funny enough (I won't spoil it by saying which one). Aside from that, the film struck me as a rather unbelievable farce about infidelity.

Most of all, you could almost feel the very talented cast trying to keep this elephant airborne. Grant and Simmons, in particular, are strong - but their efforts are ultimately squandered. Bob Mitchum is OK, but generally miscast, and Kerr's beauty and talent are basically wasted. No amount of acting would allow you to believe that anyone could act as impetuously and stupidly as she does here. She goes from happily married to tramp in about 5 minutes, for no discernible reason.

Overall acting: C (Grant/Simmons: B)
Directing: F
Writing: D-

I understand that this film caters more to English tastes, and that's fine, but I found it most un-satisfying.

Amusing If You Don't Expect Much.......2004-11-24

I'll bet that when Mitchum was announced for the movie Hollywood sniggered. Yet I think he did a good job, and held his own with Grant. I've always liked Jean Simmons and think she's a fine actress. For all her fine-boned aristocratic looks, she can play a wide variety of roles. Check out the variety of her talent, before she came to America, as Ophelia in Olivier's Hamlet, as the native girl in Black Narcissus, and as the young Estella in Great Expectations. Grant had three heavy-weight actors to play with, and I think the combined skill level shows in the movie. It's one more drawing room comedy that, for me, gets a little tiresome, but it's watchable and amusing. I think a lot of the credit for this goes to the Grant/Mitchum casting, and to Simmons.

Nothing wrong with movie, but DVD fails........2004-10-12

This has always been a favorite film of mine. The story is old-fashioned yet fun and the cast is divine. Despite having the VHS, I wanted more and ordered the DVD.

Beware! This DVD claims on its packaging to have Closed Captioning, but it does NOT!! No subtitles in any language, no line 21 captioning.

Nor does it have anything else. "Interactive Menus" means scene selections. This plain vanilla release doesn't even have a trailer. This film and cast deserves better and I see no reason Lion's Gate reissued this DVD with nothing added.

Since I bought it online, I can't return it and neither Lion's Gate nor Artisan will take it back despite the error in labeling and false advertising which is not the fault of the people I bought it from.

Cary Grant Collection (Father Goose/The Grass is Greener/Indiscreet/Operation Petticoat/That Touch of Mink)

Average customer rating:

Cary Grant Classics
Indiscreet DVD in Cary Grant set is defective!
Defective Box Set 2 times

Cary Grant Collection (Father Goose/The Grass is Greener/Indiscreet/Operation Petticoat/That Touch of Mink)
Starring: Cary Grant , Ingrid Bergman , Cecil Parker , Phyllis Calvert , and David Kossoff
Director: Stanley Donen , and Blake Edwards
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005U12S
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Customer Reviews:

Cary Grant Classics.......2005-09-14

Outstandingly supurb. I am a long time fan of any of Cary Grant movies, and you will never find any to compare. Recomend very highly

Indiscreet DVD in Cary Grant set is defective!.......2005-09-07

No reflection on my screen idol (or Amazon) but both sets I received include a defective Indiscreet DVD! There are visible pock marks on the DVD surface. I have to return the original set and this replacement set too. I hope this gets straightened out so I can enjoy the set in the near future!!

Defective Box Set 2 times.......2005-03-12

I like the set, however Amazon keeps shipping defective sets. You can easily see the defects. The actual discs look like they have a bad case of acne. Its always the same 2 that are unplayable. Wait until Amazon gets some that work!

Average customer rating:

The Grass is Greener on the Other Side

Manufacturer: Guangzhou Beauty Culture Communication Co.Ltd
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Description

This film tells the story that the organizations at the grass-roots level and party branch in the village help people endeavor to develop their economy in the modern times. When they lead people towards the road of a better life, they face a problem how t

DVD:

DVD

DVD