"Sitting Pretty" is the first of three films that were based on a 1947 novel, "Belvedere," by Gwen Davenport. Clifton Webb, as Lynn Belvedere, is the only actor who repeats in the 1949 and 1951 films. They are "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" and "Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell." As with many a series of films, the first one is the best of this trio of films. And, it's thanks to television, especially late night TV since the late 1950s, that people after the 1950s ever saw any of these films.
All of the cast are good in this film. Maureen O'Hara and Robert Young are delightful as a suburban couple, Tacey and Harry King – even in the days before "suburban" became a catchword. They live in the Hummingbird Hill neighborhood. But, they have trouble keeping a maid. Webb comes into the picture about one-third of the way through. That's after the audience has had sufficient introduction to the King family, especially the three children and their Great Dane dog, Henry. And some of the neighbors who play good parts in this story.
Tacey King hires Lynn Belvedere sight unseen, thinking he is a woman. This was one of Clifton Webb's arrogant roles that he perfected so well in his film career. Here he is an expert in just about everything. The movie just shows a couple of scenes of his interaction with the children, so it's quite a stretch to see the boys suddenly well behaved, polite and liking Mr. Belvedere. But that's what happens in short order. The audience is left wondering, just as Harry and Tacey are in the film.
While this is a comedy based around the King family, it's also more of a comedy-satire of neighborhoods in the mid-20th century. Having grown up during that time in three different places, I wonder if the neighborhood gossips and busy bodies were that widespread a thing. Hollywood made a number of movies with that element as part of them into the 1960s, And, this is a very good one in which the gossips are more of a scandal than what they spread.
Richard Haydn is the prime busy body-gossip spreader, Clarence Appleton. This is one of the prissy, smug eccentric roles for which Haydn became known. No one could do them better, and he's very good in this film. His mother, a cranky wheelchair-bound snoop, is played by Grayce Hampton. Hayden got his start on the British stage but made his name mostly in some top comedy movies, in his unusual characters. In this film, his passion is breeding irises, not far from his real life interests outside of work. He was into serious gardening and horticulture.
This move is a fine, light comedy. Following are some funny lines from the film. For more sample dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the film.
Harry King, "Don't I get a kiss?" Tacey King, "Oh, no. I'm a one-man woman and my heart belongs to Belvedere."
Harry, talking with Tacey on the telephone, "What? She didn't! Why the old bag." He looks at Bill, his law partner, and says, "The maid quit." Tacey, "In a way I'm glad to get rid of her. All she did was guzzle beer all day."
Tacey, "The sooner you start out on your own and stop lettering Mr. Hammond kick you around, the better I like it."
Ginger, "Gosh, Mrs. King. I hope you're not sore just because I invited a few friends. Golly, a person'd go absolutely insane with nothing to do but sit." Tacey King, "If I were your mother, which heaven forbid, I'd make it extremely painful for you to sit for the next few days." Ginger, to Harry after Tacey has left, "Gosh, Mr. King, I feel so sorry for you. She has a terrible disposition, hasn't she?"
Clarence Appleton, "Oh, good morning, Mr. McPherson." McPherson has just carried to the curb two metal trash cans full of empty beer and liquor bottles. McPherson, "Hmmm." Clarence, "Must have been quite a party you had last night." McPerhson, "Would you like a list of the guests who got cockeyed, or have you already got it?" Clarence, "There's no need to be unpleasant. I merely made a friendly observation." McPherson. "Well, make it someplace else."
Through the front window, Harry sees Clarence Appleton stooped with a feather in their flowers. "What the devil is he doing?" he asks. Tacey, "Seems we have a very healthy male iris, and he asked if he could have some pollen so he could breed it to one of his." Harry, "You outta charge him a stud fee."
All of the cast are good in this film. Maureen O'Hara and Robert Young are delightful as a suburban couple, Tacey and Harry King – even in the days before "suburban" became a catchword. They live in the Hummingbird Hill neighborhood. But, they have trouble keeping a maid. Webb comes into the picture about one-third of the way through. That's after the audience has had sufficient introduction to the King family, especially the three children and their Great Dane dog, Henry. And some of the neighbors who play good parts in this story.
Tacey King hires Lynn Belvedere sight unseen, thinking he is a woman. This was one of Clifton Webb's arrogant roles that he perfected so well in his film career. Here he is an expert in just about everything. The movie just shows a couple of scenes of his interaction with the children, so it's quite a stretch to see the boys suddenly well behaved, polite and liking Mr. Belvedere. But that's what happens in short order. The audience is left wondering, just as Harry and Tacey are in the film.
While this is a comedy based around the King family, it's also more of a comedy-satire of neighborhoods in the mid-20th century. Having grown up during that time in three different places, I wonder if the neighborhood gossips and busy bodies were that widespread a thing. Hollywood made a number of movies with that element as part of them into the 1960s, And, this is a very good one in which the gossips are more of a scandal than what they spread.
Richard Haydn is the prime busy body-gossip spreader, Clarence Appleton. This is one of the prissy, smug eccentric roles for which Haydn became known. No one could do them better, and he's very good in this film. His mother, a cranky wheelchair-bound snoop, is played by Grayce Hampton. Hayden got his start on the British stage but made his name mostly in some top comedy movies, in his unusual characters. In this film, his passion is breeding irises, not far from his real life interests outside of work. He was into serious gardening and horticulture.
This move is a fine, light comedy. Following are some funny lines from the film. For more sample dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the film.
Harry King, "Don't I get a kiss?" Tacey King, "Oh, no. I'm a one-man woman and my heart belongs to Belvedere."
Harry, talking with Tacey on the telephone, "What? She didn't! Why the old bag." He looks at Bill, his law partner, and says, "The maid quit." Tacey, "In a way I'm glad to get rid of her. All she did was guzzle beer all day."
Tacey, "The sooner you start out on your own and stop lettering Mr. Hammond kick you around, the better I like it."
Ginger, "Gosh, Mrs. King. I hope you're not sore just because I invited a few friends. Golly, a person'd go absolutely insane with nothing to do but sit." Tacey King, "If I were your mother, which heaven forbid, I'd make it extremely painful for you to sit for the next few days." Ginger, to Harry after Tacey has left, "Gosh, Mr. King, I feel so sorry for you. She has a terrible disposition, hasn't she?"
Clarence Appleton, "Oh, good morning, Mr. McPherson." McPherson has just carried to the curb two metal trash cans full of empty beer and liquor bottles. McPherson, "Hmmm." Clarence, "Must have been quite a party you had last night." McPerhson, "Would you like a list of the guests who got cockeyed, or have you already got it?" Clarence, "There's no need to be unpleasant. I merely made a friendly observation." McPherson. "Well, make it someplace else."
Through the front window, Harry sees Clarence Appleton stooped with a feather in their flowers. "What the devil is he doing?" he asks. Tacey, "Seems we have a very healthy male iris, and he asked if he could have some pollen so he could breed it to one of his." Harry, "You outta charge him a stud fee."