Such a frustrating disappointment

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

In Love Is A Ball Glenn Ford is a down on his luck charter boat captain who is asked to join an unusual enterprise by Charles Boyer. Ford has his charter boat business on the French Riviera which is a great place to be if you're down on your luck. This project involves training Ricardo Montalban in the fine arts of royal behavior. Montalban is royalty all right, but the exiled and impoverished kind. Still he does have a somewhat tarnished title the kind that rich folks might marry for the prestige.This is a plot situation that goes back to authors like Henry James and Mark Twain, the rich Americans getting together nobility down on its luck. You can still find a flock of them today on the Riviera. The problem is that Montalban as Prince Gaspard lacks a lot of polish, in fact he's from the Inspector Clousseau school of unpolished. Hence Boyer as his manager has assembled his team to give him that. Ford's job on the team is to teach him race car driving and horseback riding, he's done both in the past.The object of all this prince preparation is heiress Hope Lange who is visiting the Riviera with grandmother Ruth McDevitt and uncle Telly Savalas. Ford also is hired on as a chauffeur for wild child Lange to watch the investment for the team.The most interesting performance in the film is Montalban's who shows a nice comic touch with some tender moments of self reflection with Boyer's secretary Ulla Jacobbson. He realizes more than anyone else what an essentially useless life he leads. Though Clousseau was not yet on the scene, Montalban had the rich comic genius of Jerry Lewis to get some of his moves down for this film.Ford and Hope Lange were an item at the time and the film was made around the tail end of Ford's career height as a box office star. It's got some nice cinematography of the French Riviera, a place like Hawaii it's impossible to get bad pictures of and a cast that delivers the goods for the viewer.What's not to like?

I watch this movie regularly and it never fails to bring pleasure and a smile. It is a comedy, not a Shakespearean drama, yet it seems I find fresh significance in some expression or phrase each time I watch.Often, when watching a movie, I think how much better it would be with small script changes or a different cast - not so with this gem.Hope Lange - beautiful and spoiled, but intelligent and innately wholesome. Glenn Ford - a ruggedly attractive foil for her, having already experienced life in the 'fast lane' he is not tempted by her riches, only her. Charles Boyer - the perfect cultured bon vivant who is still believable as a man of principles rather than just an 'opportunist'.Telly Savalas and Ricardo Montalban probably have the two most challenging roles because they portray men that we could easily come to dislike and/or disrespect; yet each manages to fulfill the comedic requirements and complete the movie with our positive affection.Even the lesser character roles are delightful. Ruth McDevitt the grandmother - just enough fussiness to be lovable, but a few glimpses of the strong, determined woman of her youth to make it acceptable that she be the instrument of successful resolution. Ulla Jacobsen as the private secretary to Charles Boyer - fiercely loyal, efficient, articulate, and most important, able to be desirably attractive without competing with Miss Lange. Laurence Hardy - Priory(chauffeur), Andre Luguet - Zoltan(chef), and John Wood - Soames(musician) all seem to provide exactly the right seasoning for their roles. I believe it would be a lesser production without any of them.The music and cinematography are more than adequate with enough truly wonderful 'bits' to satisfy the most discriminating critic of comedy.A thoroughly wonderful movie for the whole family, made in an age when coarse language, explicit sex, and violence were not 'de rigeur'. I only hope that this will be brought out in DVD format, since my VHS copy has almost expired!

Tremendously entertaining and fun romantic comedy, set on the Riviera, filmed in warm sunshine with a top cast of real professionals. Saw it at the Royal in San Francisco, 3-31-63; co-feature was the Stewart Granger swashbuckler SWORDSMAN OF SIENA. Walked to the theatre from my apartment on a pleasant evening, for a comfortable evening at the movies, in a well appointed neighborhood house, for which I had a Pass. In the old days, one could expect a good time at the movies most times out, and always get value for money. In my case, it was a cinch

This piece of light comedy is very under-rated by many of those that I have spoken to about it, and invariably improves upon second viewing.The timing of Mr.Boyer's deliveries are impeccable. Those who are familiar with Telly Savalas in his tough-guy roles will be astonished at his performance here. Hope Lange gives one of her warmest performances in this movie; although playing a spoiled rich girl, she never loses our affection and sympathy.The supporting cast members play their parts wonderfully, each one adding just the right flavouring to the mix.Ricardo Montalban does so well (Maybe just a little too simple for a European noble fallen on hard times - but I think that is acceptable in this part, where they want humour, someone believably attractive without being a challenge to Ford), that we never for a moment want him to win the female lead, yet we are pleased that he does find a good match. His closing scenes restore our respect for him.Glenn Ford is charming in a low-key fashion. Charming yet rugged, with principles. A good, strong partner for Miss Lange's character.The closing scene between Lange & Ford never fails to leave me smiling.