The main reason for seeing 'Skylark' was the cast, with both Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland great in other things. Colbert especially was in a role that sounded perfect for her on paper. Do highly appreciate comedy and try to appreciate all types of it instead of having too much of a bias against one type. Although it can be problematic to get romance right, when it does work it is very charming and enough to make one smile.
Despite the good cast, 'Skylark' didn't work for me and while it is far from unwatchable it could have been a lot better. It is an example of romance not done very well, namely because one never really feels any. And although the type of humour here is one of my favourite types, 'Skylark' doesn't execute this type of humour well on the whole despite some moments. It needed a much lighter touch for the wit to sparkle and it is too heavy and static to be successfully sophisticated.
It is the cast that make 'Skylark' watchable, well on the most part. Colbert is a beguiling presence, but for me the two best performances come from Brian Aherne as the film's most likeable character and especially Binnie Barnes who is a breath of fresh air. Her interaction with Colbert is by far the best faring of the character interactions, the most natural, the one with the most personality and their confrontation was a comic and dramatic highlight.
Some parts are amusing, namely from Barnes. Other than the aforementioned confrontation, the other highlight when it comes to individual scenes was when Lydia's lunch preparation on a yacht during a storm. Some of the photography is nice, especially the very accomplished photography in that just mentioned scene with Colbert, done in a single take which is quite remarkable. The costumes are also easy on the eyes, Colbert's wardrobe looking quite ravishing. Victor Young's lush score didn't overbear too much.
However, the amusing moments in the comedy only came in spurts rather than being continuous. The script generally seemed quite limp, with some lines sounding more awkward than witty. The story's pace is uneven, some of it is zestful, like with Barnes, but at other points it's leaden when it takes itself too seriously. Generally a lighter touch was needed, and the same can be said for the direction too, because it did feel more like an over-serious drama than a comedy and a very stage bound one at that.
Other than between Colbert and Barnes, the character interaction is static and the lack of interesting or worth endearing to characters hurts it. Only Aherne's character is a proper exception to that, and Milland's especially was impossible to get behind with Tony's behaviour often being demeaning. Milland does make a more than game effort as Tony, but he played the part too heavily for my liking. Some of the editing looked like it was constructed in haste.
Concluding, underwhelming but far from a complete waste. 5/10
Despite the good cast, 'Skylark' didn't work for me and while it is far from unwatchable it could have been a lot better. It is an example of romance not done very well, namely because one never really feels any. And although the type of humour here is one of my favourite types, 'Skylark' doesn't execute this type of humour well on the whole despite some moments. It needed a much lighter touch for the wit to sparkle and it is too heavy and static to be successfully sophisticated.
It is the cast that make 'Skylark' watchable, well on the most part. Colbert is a beguiling presence, but for me the two best performances come from Brian Aherne as the film's most likeable character and especially Binnie Barnes who is a breath of fresh air. Her interaction with Colbert is by far the best faring of the character interactions, the most natural, the one with the most personality and their confrontation was a comic and dramatic highlight.
Some parts are amusing, namely from Barnes. Other than the aforementioned confrontation, the other highlight when it comes to individual scenes was when Lydia's lunch preparation on a yacht during a storm. Some of the photography is nice, especially the very accomplished photography in that just mentioned scene with Colbert, done in a single take which is quite remarkable. The costumes are also easy on the eyes, Colbert's wardrobe looking quite ravishing. Victor Young's lush score didn't overbear too much.
However, the amusing moments in the comedy only came in spurts rather than being continuous. The script generally seemed quite limp, with some lines sounding more awkward than witty. The story's pace is uneven, some of it is zestful, like with Barnes, but at other points it's leaden when it takes itself too seriously. Generally a lighter touch was needed, and the same can be said for the direction too, because it did feel more like an over-serious drama than a comedy and a very stage bound one at that.
Other than between Colbert and Barnes, the character interaction is static and the lack of interesting or worth endearing to characters hurts it. Only Aherne's character is a proper exception to that, and Milland's especially was impossible to get behind with Tony's behaviour often being demeaning. Milland does make a more than game effort as Tony, but he played the part too heavily for my liking. Some of the editing looked like it was constructed in haste.
Concluding, underwhelming but far from a complete waste. 5/10