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Beat the Devil/That Uncertain Feeling

Beat the Devil/That Uncertain Feeling

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A lesser Lubitsch comedy -- still quite nice!!
Review: A blithe screwball comedy from director Ernst Lubitsch about an "ideal" modern couple (known to their friends as "the Happy Bakers") whose marriage is on the rocks... Merle Oberon has a six-year itch; her husband (Melvyn Douglas) is a bit of a boob, an all right guy, but a bit obsessed with his work and at times inattentive. When Merle bumps into a free-thinking, artsy malcontent (a young Burgess Meredith, in a choice, juicy role), she falls in his arms and throws her marriage away. The story was originally filmed by Lubitsch in the silent era, but whether it's 1925 or 1941, the plot is still startlingly frank and modern: Douglas takes the affair and divorce in his stride, and even does a bit of fooling around on his own in a bid to get his wife back... The film features brisk, witty dialogue and a zippy start, and though it kind of loses a little steam midway through, it's still pretty fun. Several great character actors are in the cast, including Eve Arden and Sig Rumann... Maybe not the greatest Lubitsch film ever, but it's still a gas. Recommended!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Blatant rip-off
Review: Although the cover of this edition states that the films have been digitally remastered from archival material, this is nothing less than a blatant lie. "Beat the Devil" is mastered from the usual poor quality positive print, and picture quality on "That Uncertain Feeling" is simply awful - about the same you get on an EP mode VHS tape. I have never yet seen a DVD manufacturer sink so low. Do not believe the reviewer who raves about this edition, do not buy this, and do not buy anything released under the same label.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Don't by this edition
Review: Do not buy this DVD edition. Neither movie was digitally remastered as advertised, nor is the advertised bonus material on the DVD. The films look terrible, old prints dumped straight to DVD. The sound is equally bad. I am refering to the "Triton Video" edition that contains both Beat the Devil and That Uncertain Feeling. These are great movies that deserve better than than this poor quality DVD.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: NOTE: "Blatant rip-off" review refers to other version!
Review: I just want to clarify that the customer review of "That Uncertain Feeling" with a subject: Blatant rip-off, seems to be referring to the "Beat the Devil/That Uncertain Feeling" double feature DVD (ASIN: B00003ETNA) since both films are mentioned in the review.

The DVD that I reviewed is NOT this double-feature version, but the single-title release of "That Uncertain Feeling" by the Roan Group (ASIN: B00003RQNX).

I am confident that the Roan Group's release of the film is indeed from a restored 35mm print -- the quality is just too good not to be!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I'm "Certain" You'll Like This DVD!
Review: If you have never seen That Uncertain Feeling, an unusual little gem by master director Ernst Lubitsch, you are in for a real treat - especially if you buy this wonderful DVD edition of the film made available by the Roan Group.

Merle Oberon portrays Jill Baker, a beautiful socialite who is bored to distraction by her dull, insurance-peddling husband(Melvyn Douglas) and develops a case of nervous hiccups. Her psychiatrist (Alan Mowbray) tries to get at the root of Jill's problem by exploring every avenue - "especially Park Avenue." During one of Jill's visits she encounters an eccentric pianist (played to wonderful excess by Burgess Meredith) and that's when the fun begins. The film is not without the famed "Lubitsch Touches" including one delightful scene in which pianist Sebastian seduces Jill by tickling the ivories on her piano.

That Uncertain Feeling is often run on television, but the copies I have seen had such awful image and sound quality they were virtually unviewable! At last, thanks to the Roan Group's excellent restoration and transfer of the film to DVD, we can see the film as it should be seen. We can finally appreciate George Barnes' rich black and white photography with its dramatic interplays of light and shadow, creating a mood reminiscent of the film noir style of the period.

And the image quality of this DVD is so stunning you can almost feel the textures of the silk and lace in Merle Oberon's magnificent gowns by designer Irene. This DVD is also nicely packaged with original advertising art, and comes with extras including background information on the film and its stars, and chapter stops that allow you to jump to specific scenes.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: WELL WORTH THE MONEY
Review: The studio that puts this out is a little confusing. This double feature is from Triton/E-Realbiz.com. Also Slingshot is mentioned on the cover. I've been gobbling up these releases where I find them. For some reason Amazon is not stocking this.
Most of the reviews are a little old, but I'm still confused about their issues of quality. For the money it's pretty good. On "That Uncertain Feeling," I'd give the image a B- and the sound a B-. On Beat the Devil I'd give the image a B+ and the sound a B. Overall you get two intriuging, rewatchable and entertaining movies for a budget price.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: WELL WORTH THE MONEY
Review: The studio that puts this out is a little confusing. This double feature is from Triton/E-Realbiz.com. Also Slingshot is mentioned on the cover. I've been gobbling up these releases where I find them. For some reason Amazon is not stocking this.
Most of the reviews are a little old, but I'm still confused about their issues of quality. For the money it's pretty good. On "That Uncertain Feeling," I'd give the image a B- and the sound a B-. On Beat the Devil I'd give the image a B+ and the sound a B. Overall you get two intriuging, rewatchable and entertaining movies for a budget price.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Melancholy Lubitsch masterpiece.
Review: This deadpan, low-key, even claustrophobic Lubitsch is one of the master's subtlest films, and his wisest parable on the precariousness of marriage, the ease with which it can descend into unthinking routine and boredom; the continual games, tricks, strategies, even violence needed to galvanise it into something approaching life.

Merle Oberon is the seemingly enviable wife of a charming-but-dull insurance executive, whose inner dissatisfaction emerges in hiccups and insomnia. she is beguiled by a boorish, would-be idiosyncratic mediocre pianist, Burgess Meredith, with a penchant for dismissing everything as 'Phooey!' He introduces her to the world of art, especially modern painting; and, rapt with novelty, and a man who seems to take an interest in her as a person, rather than a trophy, she falls for him. To win her back, husband Melvyn Douglas must apply his salesman genius to his marriage.

'Feeling', like the films of his late years, is relatively muted Lubitsch - there are few of the visual conceits or accumulated comic hysterics we have come to expect from his 'touch'. The one major comic set-piece, a dinner given for Hungarian clients led by a man called Kafka (!), leads into strange, fragmented territory, and a beautiful, suspended eroticism.

Lubitsch is eminently fair-minded (or cynical!): both partners are liable to take the other for granted, and must learn to forgoe selfish power games in favour of a more satisfying equality - Meredith is a negative, very funny spanner in this process.

for a film that makes middlebrow fun of the excesses of modern art, 'That Uncertain Feeling' is a model example of modernism, Lubitsch's precise geometry of style, his use of frames (photos, paintings etc.) within tight compositions leading to the cool irony that complements the underlying, rarely stated emotion. Merle Oberon, as mysteriously expressive as one of Franju's doll-masks, is radiant.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: More Lubitsch on DVD please?!?
Review: This is a great film. I loved every minute of it. Considering the age and the source quality, the digital transfer is great. Now, if I could only track down a copy of "Trouble in Paradise."

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: On eof the best films!
Review: This is a very entertaining film. A rich an married socialite, with a devoted, but buisness minded husband, works selling insurance. The wife, Jill is neglected and wants some excitement and attention, as well as more romance. She turns to a self-centered man who plays the piano, and is said to be great in art. He says "Phooey," about practically everything. Husband and wife reconcile and all is forgiven. It's a really must see movie and is one of the best in my opinion.

Merle Oberon Melyvn Douglas are brilliant in it. They make a romantic, and comical couple at times. It deserves many many stars.


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