Somehow I became a fan of Kim Novak when I saw her in a film in the mid-1960s when I was in college. I don't remember the title, but I was forever hooked on her and have enjoyed all her roles.
Here she is Mrs. Hardwicke, Carly, who lives in a nice part of London and is advertising to rent out part of her home. The audience is quickly brought into the mystery when a young couple and their son show up, but as soon as Mrs, Hardwicke opens the door (we only see her from the rear) we can tell from the expressions that they recognize her from something, and back off, not wanting anything to do with her. She must be "notorious" but we don't find out why for a while.
Then along comes Jack Lemmon as Bill Gridley, a US State department diplomat just moving into London and needing a flat near work. He sees the ad and convinces Carly to take him in, even though the ad says "prefers a couple." Bill has no inkling that something may be wrong, and immediately falls for Carly. Their early romance is filled with missteps.
The third key character is Fred Astaire as Franklyn Ambruster, Bill's boss. When he finds that Bill has rented from the notorious Carly Hardwicke, he and Scotland yard begin to watch more closely, and eventually ask Bill to help.
At issue is Mr. Hardwicke, who it seems has disappeared and Carly has been accused of murdering her husband. This has brought the notoriety and her picture has been in the newspapers and tabloids. But there is no body, no evidence, so she cannot be tried, however she is always being watched. Plus her passport has been seized so she can't go back to Chicago. Bill can't believe this nice woman could be a murderer.
All in all a very entertaining romantic comedy with a murder mystery thrown in. Kim Novak is in fine form. Not very meaningful but good entertainment, as most 1960s movies of this sort.
SPOILERS: Mr Hardwicke is in fact still alive, but had fled to hide a crime. Near the end of the movie he shows up in Carly's bedroom, there is a struggle, he is accidentally shot with his own gun. A trial is held but witnesses exonerate Carly. But a neighbor has gotten off with the jewels hidden in a pawned candelabra, and is tracked down by Bill and Carly at a seaside resort.
Here she is Mrs. Hardwicke, Carly, who lives in a nice part of London and is advertising to rent out part of her home. The audience is quickly brought into the mystery when a young couple and their son show up, but as soon as Mrs, Hardwicke opens the door (we only see her from the rear) we can tell from the expressions that they recognize her from something, and back off, not wanting anything to do with her. She must be "notorious" but we don't find out why for a while.
Then along comes Jack Lemmon as Bill Gridley, a US State department diplomat just moving into London and needing a flat near work. He sees the ad and convinces Carly to take him in, even though the ad says "prefers a couple." Bill has no inkling that something may be wrong, and immediately falls for Carly. Their early romance is filled with missteps.
The third key character is Fred Astaire as Franklyn Ambruster, Bill's boss. When he finds that Bill has rented from the notorious Carly Hardwicke, he and Scotland yard begin to watch more closely, and eventually ask Bill to help.
At issue is Mr. Hardwicke, who it seems has disappeared and Carly has been accused of murdering her husband. This has brought the notoriety and her picture has been in the newspapers and tabloids. But there is no body, no evidence, so she cannot be tried, however she is always being watched. Plus her passport has been seized so she can't go back to Chicago. Bill can't believe this nice woman could be a murderer.
All in all a very entertaining romantic comedy with a murder mystery thrown in. Kim Novak is in fine form. Not very meaningful but good entertainment, as most 1960s movies of this sort.
SPOILERS: Mr Hardwicke is in fact still alive, but had fled to hide a crime. Near the end of the movie he shows up in Carly's bedroom, there is a struggle, he is accidentally shot with his own gun. A trial is held but witnesses exonerate Carly. But a neighbor has gotten off with the jewels hidden in a pawned candelabra, and is tracked down by Bill and Carly at a seaside resort.