Ranskalainen mieheni

Nancy Mitford's novel "The Blessing" becomes somewhat uneasy romantic vehicle for Deborah Kerr and Rossano Brazzi, neither of whom are especially adept at light comedy. During the London blitz, an English girl (already somewhat engaged) shares a whirlwind courtship with a brash, handsome (and fabulously rich) French Captain, whom she promptly marries; after a three-day honeymoon, he receives his 'orders' and leaves for duty, disappearing from her life for nine years. Upon the Captain's return, the couple's reunion is strained by the child she had in his absence, an impertinent lad who hopes to keep the squabbling lovebirds apart. In the key role of the son (nicknamed Siggy!), little Martin Stephens is too intense for this featherweight scenario (although this same intensity would serve him well in 1961's "The Innocents", wherein he also co-starred alongside Deborah Kerr). As for the grown-ups, Kerr and Brazzi seem typecast in their roles: she as a prudish standard bearer, he as a Euro cad. Kerr's early fidgeting (and her eventual anger over being forgotten) are well-wrought; however, the chemistry she shares with Maurice Chevalier as Brazzi's uncle is far stronger than Kerr's connection to her leading man! The production is certainly attractive, and there are some interesting exchanges of dialogue questioning why women hope to change the men they marry (and, if wives are willing to make changes to suit their husbands, why can't the husbands do the same?). Not a smooth mix of moods, and with stagy action from lead-footed director Jean Negulesco, but far from terrible. **1/2 from ****