Truly Dreadful Film

Please don't spend money on this.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Kim Novak is "The Notorious Landlady" in this 1962 Columbia film starring Jack Lemmon, Fred Astaire, Estelle Winwood, and Lionel Jeffries.William Gridley (Lemmon) is a junior diplomat assigned to London who comes to look at rooms for rent by one Mrs. Hardwicke (Novak). As soon as Gridley lays eyes on her, he wants the room. At first she says she's the maid and can't rent to him, but she drops the pretense and allows herself to be talked into giving him the rooms, though she preferred a couple.When his boss, Franklyn Ambruster (Astaire) hears the name of Gridley's landlady, it sounds familiar. It takes him a couple of minutes to find out that she is suspected of murdering her husband and remains the talk of London. The police, headed up by Inspector Oliphant, want Gridley to see what he can find out. Gridley, of course, is sure that his landlady is incapable of murder.The plot thickens and so does the comedy, leading to an atypical trial and finally to a chase scene out of the Keystone Kops. Along the way there's blackmail, fire, a witness, poison, and a few other things.As good as I thought this film was, and as much as I like Kim Novak (who designed her own clothes and they're gorgeous - she could have had a second career) I thought she could have added to the comedy a little more, although she's just fine as the beautiful, mysterious Mrs. Hardwicke. Jack Lemmon is delightful as the confused Gridley, and Lionel Jeffries is a standout as the exasperated Inspector. Fred Astaire makes an elegant Ambruster. Estelle Winwood, as an elderly neighborhood, is on hand for some fun comedy.Very entertaining film, recommended, especially given the stars. Written by Larry Gelbart and Blake Edwards.

Somehow I became a fan of Kim Novak when I saw her in a film in the mid-1960s when I was in college. I don't remember the title, but I was forever hooked on her and have enjoyed all her roles.Here she is Mrs. Hardwicke, Carly, who lives in a nice part of London and is advertising to rent out part of her home. The audience is quickly brought into the mystery when a young couple and their son show up, but as soon as Mrs, Hardwicke opens the door (we only see her from the rear) we can tell from the expressions that they recognize her from something, and back off, not wanting anything to do with her. She must be "notorious" but we don't find out why for a while.Then along comes Jack Lemmon as Bill Gridley, a US State department diplomat just moving into London and needing a flat near work. He sees the ad and convinces Carly to take him in, even though the ad says "prefers a couple." Bill has no inkling that something may be wrong, and immediately falls for Carly. Their early romance is filled with missteps.The third key character is Fred Astaire as Franklyn Ambruster, Bill's boss. When he finds that Bill has rented from the notorious Carly Hardwicke, he and Scotland yard begin to watch more closely, and eventually ask Bill to help.At issue is Mr. Hardwicke, who it seems has disappeared and Carly has been accused of murdering her husband. This has brought the notoriety and her picture has been in the newspapers and tabloids. But there is no body, no evidence, so she cannot be tried, however she is always being watched. Plus her passport has been seized so she can't go back to Chicago. Bill can't believe this nice woman could be a murderer.All in all a very entertaining romantic comedy with a murder mystery thrown in. Kim Novak is in fine form. Not very meaningful but good entertainment, as most 1960s movies of this sort.SPOILERS: Mr Hardwicke is in fact still alive, but had fled to hide a crime. Near the end of the movie he shows up in Carly's bedroom, there is a struggle, he is accidentally shot with his own gun. A trial is held but witnesses exonerate Carly. But a neighbor has gotten off with the jewels hidden in a pawned candelabra, and is tracked down by Bill and Carly at a seaside resort.

Lemmon gives his usual sterling performance, although rather closer to the wisecracking, raffish roles that someone like, say, Tony Curtis would normally appear in, Novak shows that hourglass figure in a series of body hugging outfits, her strange Harlow-like eyebrows look out of place in a 60's film. Astaire shows immaculate timing and a nice line is self deprecation, letting Lemmon bounce the laughs off of him.What undoes the film is the desperately phony "foggy London", the sets sprinkle British telephone boxes and black cabs for effect, then undo it by introducing a Cockney flower seller (with obligatory straw hat) and filling the streets with British sports cars and limousines (since they were the most common exports to the US; Since this same cheapo trick was used for so many years in long running TV series such as "Columbo" and "Murder She Wrote", it's clear that US producers realise that US audiences can be conned at low cost).At heart the film is a strange, unworkable melange of comedy, romance and melodrama and fails to hit the mark on any of them. Screwball comedies blossomed and died in the 30's and 40's, this attempt to resurrect them does not succeed.

This has got to be one of the funnest movies every produced. Jack Lemmon and Kim Novack are truly outstanding. Easy to follow with twist that keeps you guessing. Kim Novack is the attractive American landlady. Jack Lemmon is the Amertican diplomat. Together they make magic as the plot's twist and turns develop. This is a must see for Novack fans. If you like a good old fashion mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. and laughing, this is the film to see. Fred Astarie also gives a very good performance. As Jack Lemmon's boss, he to is taken with the charm and beauty of Novack. The laughs keep coming as the the two of them, Lemmon and Astaire, do everything in there power to help Novack in her time of need. If you love Kim Novack, Jack Lemmon, and Fred Astaire than this movie is for you.