| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ernst Lubitsch |
| Starring | Merle Oberon, Melvyn Douglas, Burgess Meredith |
| Genre | Romantic Comedy / Screwball |
| Runtime | ~84 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Public Domain | Yes |
FieldDetailsDirected byErnst LubitschStarringMerle Oberin, Melvyn Douglas, Burgess MeredithGenre Romantic Comedy / ScrewballRuntime -84 minutesLanguage English Public DomainYes
🎬 Overview
Directed by a legend, Ernst Lubitsch, That Uncertain Feeling is a time-honored, romantic remarriage comedy, which is full of wit, strange characters and a little dose of psychoanalysis. It was released in 1941 and stars Merle Oberon as a woman who goes to a shrink about a case of nervous hiccups and realizes that she is dissatisfied in her appearance of a happy marriage and finds herself in a love triangle with a neurotic pianist.
Being less renowned than such masterpieces of Lubitsch as Ninotchka or The Shop Around the Corner, the movie is a lovely nostalgic glimpse of the peculiarities of the mid-century romantic relationships and a typical so-called Lubitsch Touch of the director.
🧠 Plot Summary
Jill Baker (Merle Oberon) is a sophisticated New Yorkouse wife who is evidently afflicted with a fascinating condition; nervous hiccups. She visits a trendy psychoanalyst, Dr. Vengard (Alan Mowbray) on the recommendation of a friend, which makes her rethink her joyful marriage to the sensible, good-natured Larry Baker (Melvyn Douglas).
In the waiting room, she gets to know Alexander Sebastian, a gloomy, vain pianist who lives by his own and communicates in grotesque speeches. Jill is charmed by his strange attractiveness and asks him out to a dinner with the clients of Larry. To her infatuation, Larry is gracefully willing to divorce.
Shortly, Jill and Sebastian are dating- however, Jill discovers too late that she is still in love with Larry. There is then a game of romantic misunderstanding, lies and one man imitating the sobs of a woman in the next room. Jill and Larry get reunited later on and miraculously, her hiccups disappear forever.
👥 Cast Highlights
Merle Oberon as Jill Baker
Larry Baker played by Melvyn Douglas.
Alexander Sebastian was portrayed by Burgess Meredith.
Alan Mowbray as Dr. Vengard
Eve Arden as Sally Aikens
Harry Davenport as Jones, the lawyer to Larry.
Sig Ruman as Mr. Kafka
🎹 A Lubitsch-ian Romp
The film is based on the 1880 French play of the same title, Divorçons, which in turn is based on the play of the same title, written in 1870 by Victorien Sardou and embodying the same light-heartedness as a Lubitsch comedy, albeit with a slightly surreal, screwball twist added to it, due in great part to the wonderfully awkward performance of Burgess Meredith who plays the role of the over-the-top pianist.
That Uncertain Feeling has not fared well at the box office, but it is a little known treasure trove of those who are fond of old school romantic comedies with a lot of witty lines and humorous twists.
🎼 Awards & Legacy
Werner R. Heymann was nominated in the list of the Academy Awards in the category of Best Original Score.
It was not a commercial success, but the movie is remembered nowadays due to its snappy dialogue, humorous pacing and light-hearted approach to psychoanalysis and marriage- a theme that was ripe to be saturated by a comedy in the 1940s.
📺 Watch That Uncertain Feeling Free
📥 Download Now – Romantic Screwball Classic
📽️ Watch the Full Movie – Public Domain Link
📽️ Public domain Link Watch the Full Movie.
The movie is now under the public domain, i.e. you may watch and share at will. It is an excellent choice to watch in case of loving classic comedies, Ernst Lubitsch or old Hollywood romance.
🧠 Did You Know?
It was not one of the few flops of Lubitsch then, however, looking back it has become a cult movie among the more traditional moviegoers.
Eve Arden of course, robs every scene that she is in as she always does with her sarcasm, which fits perfectly.
🔖 Tags
ernst lubitsch, merle oberon, melvyn douglas, romantic comedy, public domain, screwball, 1941 movie, that uncertain feeling, classics, lubitsch touch.
