It's Love Again (1936)

Sadly Over-hyped

Don't Believe the Hype

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Peter (Robert Young) and Freddie (Sonnie Hale) invent a celebrity, Mrs Smythe-Smythe, in order to fool the public and sell newspapers. Meanwhile, Elaine Bradford (Jessie Matthews) is looking for a chance to become a celebrity and seems to be getting nowhere with her audition for major theatre producer Raymond (Ernest Milton). So, she pretends to be Mrs Smythe-Smythe in order to get attention. Things go well at first but a rival reporter discovers the truth....There are many humorous sections in this film, eg, the scene where Peter and Freddie decide on their celebrity, Raymond's exasperation with the theatre (I hate the theatre....I hate the people...). The cast are all good and Sonnie Hale is funny in most of his scenes. The film is Britsh and I was surprised at the quality of both the production and the comedy. It doesn't contain that stupid British humour of the time. It is actually quite funny! But best of all, the film has Jessie Matthews singing and dancing. The songs are all fine but her dancing is great. She was easily up there with the best that Hollywood could provide at the time. Maybe she was THE best of her time. All the dances are good, my favourite being the sequence where she is trapped into giving a performance of a Hindu temple dance. She has no idea what she is supposed to do and starts somewhat hesitantly but then turns it into the most enjoyable solo tap dance sequence in any film that I can remember seeing. A joy to watch. I was pleasantly surprised by this film.

There was no female dancer who could compare to Jessie Matthews. She had a sparkling personality and her dancing was out of this world - she was not called the dancing divinity for nothing!!! She did not make many films and many of them were not wonderful but "Evergreen" (1934),"First a Girl" (1935) and "It's Love Again" (1936) are among the top musicals ever made. "It's Love Again" was the first British film to have it's premiere in New York at the Roxy, before the British opening. She was always being courted by Hollywood and the time would have been ideal after the American premiere of "It's Love Again". She was having marriage problems then and in hind sight going to the States could have given her a whole new career but at the time she was praised for her loyalty in staying in Britain. Definitely "It's Love Again" is, in my opinion, her best film. No expense was spared either in the musical numbers or in the importation of American leading man Robert Young.Mr. Raymond (Ernest Milton) is desperate for a leading lady for his new show and Elaine Bradford (Jessie Matthews) a down on her luck chorus girl is eager to audition for him. For her first attempt she sings and dances to the lilting "It's Love Again" - she also makes the acquaintance of Peter Carlton (Robert Young) a reporter - they dance a soft shoe together. In the middle of her audition, an old flame of Raymond's arrives and between reminiscences of West End, he engages her for the shows leading lady - Elaine goes home determined to make a name for herself as she thinks that is the only way to succeed.Carlton, along with his sidekick Freddie (Sonnie Hale, Jessie's husband at the time) is a reporter without a scoop!!! Freddie suggests they invent a fascinating, adventurous lady that only they can write about - Mrs. Smythe- Smythe!!! Elaine, still unemployed, decides to impersonate Mrs. Smythe-Smythe to get some publicity. She arrives at the Imperial Palace with Cyril Wells (Matthews occasional dancing partner). Together they dance "We Have Met Before" - Jessie looks splendid in a barely there silvery evening gown. She meets up with Peter and begs him to let her go on with her impersonation (they do a lovely "footsie" dance to "It's Love Again").She is invited to an Eastern Bazaar ball where she has to improvise a Hindu dance - and she does!!! in an amazingly risqué costume made of glittering jewels and not much else, plus an elaborate head-dress!!! She dances to Roy Fox Band's "Tony's in Town" - she's wonderful!!! The evening ends with a shooting match between Elaine and a crusty old colonel. On the way home she sees Raymond and executes an impromptu dance to impress him - "Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing" is a light hearted, bouncy song that Jessie performs in a park. At the song's end all the passers by join in the chorus, including a couple of baritone bobbies!!! Raymond is impressed and promises to put her name up in lights - "Mrs Smythe- Smythe"!!! (Elaine had wanted to make it on her own). She is starred in a spectacular musical "Safari" and the show stopping finale "I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Through My Fingers" features that silver spangled cat suit - the outfit that shocked Michael Balcon and is always mentioned in articles about Jessie. The dance itself is amazing, as Elaine first sings the song, then dances with a chorus line, then does a dazzling dance with her partner Cyril. She is then exposed by a rival reporter as a fake but is determined to come back as Elaine Bradford. She is then seen in a montage of dances she has performed throughout the film and Raymond realises he had the right girl from the start.Robb Wilton has an excellent role as Boys, the butler.Highly, Highly Recommended.

I caught this recently on late-night television. It wasn't given a great review in my TV guide, but I was intrigued into watching it for I had never seen 30's British star Jessie Matthews in a film. Admittedly, I was also waiting up for the World Cup coverage (Go Socceroos, go!) to begin on a different channel. So I killed time and watched 'It's Love Aagain'.And I enjoyed it.It has a very light, flimsy plot and little unique visual style. Those are the downers...but then, did the Astaire-Rogers 30's musicals have amazing story lines and incredible camera-work? No. This is a cheery comedy-musical designed to make audiences feel good about themselves and life, and it works on that level. Some of the acting is rather poor at times, but that doesn't detract from the star, the 'Dancing Divinity' Jessie Matthews.From seeing her in this, I think that she was a very talented lady. She is an appealing, though not great, actress and a wonderfully capable and accomplished dancer-singer. She lights up the screen in every scene she is in and she works well with her male love interest, Robert Young. I've seen a lot of Young's work lately (courtesy of late-night television) and I am beginning to really like him. A reliable, underrated leading man.It looks very lavish for a Post-Great Depression film set in London. Matthews is charming, the musical numbers are fun, and you'll forget your troubles for a brief time.Worthwhile.

Very fresh, even tho' made over 50 yrs ago.