Themes: Vacation Romances, Culture Clash, Love Triangles
Main Cast: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons, Moray Watson
Release Year: 1961
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 105 minutes
Plot
A rousing chorus of Noël Coward's "Stately Homes of England" is heard as the opening titles of The Grass Is Greener fade into several stock shots of those stately homes. One of these mansions is owned by British earl Victor Rhyall (Cary Grant), who opens his home to American tourists in order to make ends meet. One such tourist is wealthy Texan Charles Delacro (Robert Mitchum), who sets his sights upon Victor's lovely wife, Hilary (Deborah Kerr). In his efforts to win back his wife, Victor presses his former girlfriend Hattie Durant (Jean Simmons) into service. The Grass Is Greener was adapted by Hugh and Margaret Williams from their own stage play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Grass Is Greener is a winning, sophisticated little comedy that, while no classic, is quite easy to enjoy -- especially after one gets past the opening credits, a too-cutesy lapse of taste from director Stanley Donen that features a group of diaper-clad (and occasionally naked) babies cavorting on the green, and that makes one fear that Grass will be a cloying little domestic comedy. Fortunately, Donen sets things right immediately afterward, and delivers a stylish, elegant comedy that looks at marriage and infidelity in a manner that is both amusing and adult. Grass is serious about its characters and their predicament, but Donen expertly blends the serious and the comic to very good effect. Of course, he's helped enormously by a top-notch quartet of stars. That Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr can carry off this material with wit and charm is certainly no surprise. What's a bit surprising is how easily Robert Mitchum fits into the proceedings, and how alarmingly funny Jean Simmons is in a role that calls on her to be a bit of an exuberant minx. The Grass Is Greener goes on a tad too long, and some viewers will find a few stretches talky, but on the whole, it's a tasty little treat for adult palates. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Paul Sheriff - Art Director, James Ware - Associate Producer, Christian Dior - Costume Designer, Hardy Amies - Costume Designer, Roy Stevens - First Assistant Director, Stanley Donen - Director, Jim Clark - Editor, Noël Coward - Composer (Music Score), Muir Mathieson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Eric Allwright - Makeup, John O'Gorman - Makeup, Austin Dempster - Camera Operator, Christopher G. Challis - Cinematographer, Stanley Donen - Producer, Vernon Dixon - Set Designer, John Cox - Sound/Sound Designer, John W. Mitchell - Sound/Sound Designer, Hugh Williams - Screenwriter, Margaret Williams - Screenwriter, Hugh Williams - Play Author
The Earl and Countess of Rhyall (Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr) are facing financial troubles and are forced to give guided tours of their house. When obnoxious oil tycoon Charles Delacro (Robert Mitchum) and an equally grating ex-girlfriend of Lord Rhyall's, American heiress Hattie Durant (Jean Simmons), visit, a love triangle (or quadrangle) develops and kicks off a tale of love, jealousy and other strong emotions.
Reception
While the film was a moderate success at the U.K. box office, it fared much worse in the United States. Reviews of the film were mostly lukewarm. Despite its initial failure, the film has since developed a following and has been a staple of American cable television. At the time of its release, Jean Simmons's performance as a madcap heiress earned some praise and a Laurel Award nomination.
