That Certain Feeling (1956)

Divorced comic strip cartoonist Francis X. Dignan is hired as a ghost-writer by pompous client Larry Larkin who happens to be the fiancé of Dignan's ex-wife.

Directors:

Melvin Frank, Norman Panama

Writers:

William Altman (screenplay), Eleanor Brooke (play)

Stars:

Bob Hope, Eva Marie Saint, George Sanders

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bob Hope	...	Francis X. Dignan
Eva Marie Saint	...	Dunreath Henry
George Sanders	...	Larry Larkin
Pearl Bailey	...	Augusta aka Gussie
David Lewis	...	Joe Wickes
Al Capp	...	Al Capp
Jerry Mathers	...	Norman Taylor
Herbert Rudley	...	Doctor Summers
Florenz Ames	...	Senator Winston

Storyline

When Larry Larkin's comic strip needs some freshening up, he calls in ghost-writer Francis X. Dignan to help him with the strip. Things get complicated when Francis rekindles his love for his ex-wife, who happens to be Larkin's secretary and soon-to-be wife.

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Plot Keywords:

cartoonist | ghost writer | secretary | adoption | ex wife | 

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Taglines:

ALL THE ALL-OUT LAUGHTER THAT MADE IT A SMASH HIT ON THE BROADWAY STAGE! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

"That Certain Feeling" originated on Broadway under its original title "King of Hearts" with Cloris Leachman and Jackie Cooper in the Saint and Hope roles.

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Goofs

To get the little boy out of the way so Dunreath and Francis can have dinner together at Larkin's apartment, Gussie asks, "Norman, honey, how'd you like to spend the evening up at Billie's?" Larkin lives in a penthouse. No one lives above.

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Quotes

Norman Taylor: Hey, Dignan, I just thought of a joke - You and Dunreath, Gussie and I are going to get married and live with Happy - ever after! Get it?
Francis X. Dignan: Needs work.

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Connections

Featured in Eva Marie Saint: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival (2014)

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Soundtracks

That Certain Feeling
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed during the opening credits by Pearl Bailey, later reprised by Bob Hope

User Reviews

Not exactly a comedy...but among Hope's better films.

"That Certain Feeling" is unlike many of Bob Hope's films. Sure, Hope makes a few sarcastic comments here and there, but the movie is less a comedy than usual...and that's NOT a bad thing.

When the film begins, you learn that Larry Larkin (George Sanders) is a very successful cartoonist with his 'Snips' cartoon strip. However, over the years, the quality of the strip has dropped and has lost its way. This is likely because Larry has become a big fat-head--more concerned with public relations and his ego than his strip. To help him, his fiancée, Dunreath (Eva Marie Saint), goes out to hire a great cartoonist who can copy Snips and inject life into it...sort of a ghost writer and artist rolled into one. The problem is that Francis (Hope) is Dunreath's ex-husband! Well, although he doesn't want the job, it pays well and he certainly needs the money, so he takes it.

When Francis arrives at Larry's apartment, he sizes up Larry very well almost immediately--the guy is a total jerk. But instead of telling him off and telling him what to do with the job, Francis knuckles under. After all, he has suffered from an odd psychological impairment for years--whenever he gets mad, he gets nauseous. So, to keep from throwing up, Francis goes along with Larry and his stupid demands...and they are pretty stupid. Because it would be good p.r., Larry plans on adopting a cute orphan (Jerry Mathers) and tells Francis to go pick up the kid and show him a good time. Well, Francis and the kid get along great...but Larry is supposed to be the kid's father and Larry seems to only want the kid for photo ops! This, and many other thoughtless things keep building up until the audience knows, sooner or later, Francis is going to explode...nausea or not! While there's much more to the story, I'll say no more as I don't want to spoil it.

I really liked this film...mostly because the characters were enjoyable (even Larry...he was so awful you love to hate him). It's unusual and Mathers was adorable. Overall, a sweet little film with a bit of comedy here and there. Well worth seeing and it's too bad Hope's films of the 1960s lacked the spark you see in this one.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

King of Hearts

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hope Enterprises, P & F

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1