Moviecut—Love Before Breakfast

source: Love Before Breakfast

Love Before Breakfast

Carole Lombard steals any film that she's in and this film is no exception. Yes, she played Kay Colby, a wealthy bored heiress. She is expected to marry Cesar Romero's character who takes off for months to Japan on a work assignment for his boss, Scott Miller (played by Preston Foster). Scott Miller and Kay Colby have a love and hate relationship during her fiancé's absence. I don't think that Scott Miller was that bad. The best scenes take place when Kay and her fiancé are on their small boat in the waters while Miller does his best to assist his employee and his fiancé during a storm. But Kay is stubborn to admit any feelings for Scott Miller. I thought the scene at the restaurant with her fiancé where the table get circling but annoying. The film is a slapstick comedy during the old studio system and when stars like Lombard made several films a year. Not all films were gems but this one is entertaining though after all.

This is a terrible film. It is not funny at all and is both boring and irritating. It is supposed to be a frothy romantic comedy, but it has about as much froth as a glass of beer that has been standing in a cupboard for two weeks. Carole Lombard was unable to save it on her own, despite her talents, and she flails around like a lost parakeet who cannot find her perch. The appalling leading man, Preston Foster, is simply offensive and revolting. If you are looking for a complete failure in this genre, this is it. A basic premise of this film is that it is OK for a pompous man to persecute a girl and try to force his attentions on her to satisfy his lusts and his male vanity. This is supposed to be amusing. The man's self regard is nauseating, and the very concept of this film is utterly loathsome.

I have to say I was more than happy after seeing this one. Noticing the few reviews, it would seem that this is one of Mrs. Lombard's minor comedies but it's is way better than that. Deserves more to say the least. Preston Foster is just as good in this as Mrs. Lombard. He's a real firecracker in this. Trying to get the girl he wants in his corporate/take charge kinda way. He meets his match though. It's a fun one all the way through. Look out for a few scenes with Cesar Romero. He does a great job. Not one of your typical 30's era acting where it looks sorta fake. He really is good in this. I'm surprised he didn't do more of these. Give this one a go and be prepared for fun. I loved it.

Last Night I watched A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011)a movie that supposedly represents a modern day romantic comedy, I didn't get one laugh and the bevy of actresses in that movie all combined couldn't compare to Carole Lombard. I love Lombard's movies she's always entertaining as well as strikingly beautiful, this movie came out the same year as "My Man Godfrey" and while this movie can't compare to Godfrey I think Carole with her starring role in this film is more of a showcase for her. The plot is nothing special, spoiled rich girl and powerful businessman go head to head, but it's the performances especially the chemistry between Lombard and Preston that make this movie worth seeing.

A rich man pursues a young woman although her boyfriend works for him. This breezy film is an apt vehicle for the comedic talents of the incomparable Lombard, who plays the woman in a love triangle involving Foster and Romero. The role of the rich fellow seems tailor-made for Clark Gable, but Foster, who was better known for playing tough guys, does pretty well as a poor man's Gable. Beecher is a delight as Lombard's wise-cracking mother. Although only one is credited, apparently a number of writers were involved, including Preston Sturges. However, the film does not suffer from too many cooks in the kitchen, as the pacing is rapid and the dialog is witty. Lang provides the smooth direction.