I tuned in to this one on TCM drawn by the prospect of seeing Gardner, Niven and Granger working together. The synopsis did not lead me to expect much but I had a thoroughly delightful hour and a half watching these greats having a ball working together in a frothy sex comedy reminiscent of Noel Coward by way of Tahiti. There is so much here that is rampantly silly - Gardner's devil-may-care attitude towards both of her men, Niven's and Granger's stiff upper lip Britishness, the ridiculous island contraptions, etc. But the script is so elegantly risque, and so tied to sexual humor in the best Cole Porter style, that one simple suspends disbelief and goes along for the thoroughly enjoyable ride. It must be hard for younger viewers, steeped in raw cinematic sexuality, to appreciate this kind of sophisticated, unexplicit ribaldry. Also, it helps to have some familiarity with the three star's cinematic personas. Probably best enjoyed by folks who can still recall the Eisenhower administration.
Review of The Little Hut
