Unfaithfully Yours

Even for a throwaway comedy like this one, it is difficult to accept that a double murder attempt only foiled by the perpetrator's ineptitude is a) funny, b) would be dismissed by all who are aware of it, including the victims, as an innocent mistake that anybody could have made and that should go unpunished by law.

...was Dudley Moore's character drunk through most of the movie. I kept looking at his eyes and it seemed to me that he was intoxicated in scenes that featured no spirits. I rented the DVD because of the one and only funny scene where he follows his wife into the cinema and loudly accosts two strangers. He slithers into the row in front, pops up and screams, "YOU WHORE!!!" It's hilarious. However, it's the ONLY laugh in the movie. If Dudley felt he needed to be drunk to play some scenes, then shame on him. A lot of comedic actors get stuck in a bad script and they still do their job. Someday I hope to see the original Preston Sturges comedy starring Rex Harrison.

Moore is a symphony conductor who believes his wife is cheating on him with fellow musician Assante. During a performance he devices a plan to get rid of them both. All works perfectly in his mind, but the execution is another matter indeed. Simply hilarious at times, this remake of the 1948 original benefits hugely from an extremely appealing cast and witty script. Even Albert Brooks, who's usually rather tiresome, is very funny as Moore's friend who accidentally sets all things in motion. These comedies that only use misunderstandings as the film's driving force are completely hit or miss. This time it's all well written and, under some unusual circumstances sure, it could happen. The ending, when Moore executes his plans, is nothing short of fantastic, he's simply at his comedic best. It's the conclusion really that misses, sort of cheap but up until then it's a lot of fun.

Claude Eastman (Dudley Moore) is a famous composer and conductor. His new young wife Daniella (Nastassja Kinski) is an actress. A confusion causes his friend to hire a private investigator to check on her. The investigator finds something which drives Claude mad with jealousy. He has a fantasy of murdering her and framing her supposed boyfriend violinist Maxmillian Stein (Armand Assante). There is something unfunny about an angry jealous Dudley Moore. I've never seen the original Preston Sturges. I have to think that another comedic actor could inject some screwball comedy into this dark character. Dudley is simply hateful without being fun. I imagine a Danny DeVito would be a better fit. Dudley is better as the lovable lush. I don't like him as this character and I can't laugh at him either.

Unfaithful is an appropriate word here. The movie with its writing is totally unfaithful to the movie industry. This is an inane film with the late Dudley Moore proving once again how foolish he could act. Of course, the film blames it on a person who couldn't speak English and who misinterpreted something leading Moore to believe that wife Natassja Kinski has been carrying on with violinist Armand Assante. The only good things about the movies are the long hairs of Armand and Dudley and the music interludes with Dudley great as being an orchestra leader. The film goes downhill as Moore fantasizes the perfect murder plot only to see the plot go entirely awry. Ditto for the writing and everything else here.

I suppose remakes are rarely eligible for best picture nominations, but the story and the way this film presents it is wonderful. Jealousy and mistaken identity make a great plot. I'm sure it is much more enjoyable than any other 1984 film nominated for best picture. I admit I have not seen the 1948 original and perhaps if it comes on cable/satellite TV I will. I would like to know if the same music is used. The music, Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto, 1st Movement", what a fine and difficult symphony. Then there is the dueling violins scene using Vittorio Monti's "Czardas," excellent passionate music for the passion Dudley Moore's character feels about his wife played by Natassia Kinski. Dudley Moore and Armande Asante make as good a team as Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, but without the foul language. This movie is clean and has substance.