This pre-code comedy is the only sound film that starred legendary stage actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine. They had starred in the play on which it is based and they thought they'd give talking films a try. I watched it because I wanted a glimpse of Lunt and Fontaine, but as I watched I kept laughing and laughing. It's a silly comedy, a piece of fluff really, but Lunt and Fontaine (along with a great supporting cast) transform it into one of the funniest films I've ever seen. Lunt plays it big and broad while Fontaine keeps it small and subtle, but for the script they were working with, this worked beautifully. Although both actors were nominated for academy awards for their roles, the film was not a box office success, and the couple decided to stick to the stage thereafter. But this film is not just a curiosity. It's a masterpiece.
Review of The Guardsman
