Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Steinesongo Too many fans seem to be blown away

PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

SimonJack "It Started with Eve" is one of those Hollywood movies with not an inkling of a clue as to the title. Sometimes, the studios would make films based on a script that would have a book verse or well-known quotation in the title. Or, something similar that gave a clue as to the title. Then, with rewrites in the script, or directing changes or cuts in the editing process, the clue part was deleted from the finished product. Most of the time it didn't make much difference, because what was described had little to do with what actually takes place in the film. This is all to say that the title of this film makes no sense and gives no hint as to what the movie is about. That aside, the film is a very good one. It's a wonderful romantic comedy combo, with a touch of music. The plot was so successful that Hollywood would copy it and revise it for later movies. The cast is an interesting pairing of actors one wouldn't normally think of associating together in film. But, they work beautifully together here. I think the three leads have about equal time on screen. Deanna Durbin got top billing because she was the darling and top box office attraction for Universal at the time. She is sweet and funny as Anne Terry, and gives us just a couple of samples of her beautiful signing voice. Robert Cummings is Johnny Reynolds, who behaves frantically as he jumps from the kettle into the fire throughout the film. Cummings developed an indecisive, stuttering persona that appears in much of his film and TV work. Charles Laughton is Jonathan Reynolds, the dying patriarch who regains his health and spirits when Johnny introduces Anne to him as his fiancé. Several others of the cast do very well. Water Catlett is exceptional as Doctor Harvey, and Charles Coleman is a hoot as Roberts, the butler. Much of the comedy evolves around Laughton's character and that of the doctor. So, Jonathan clearly is the driving force, literally in the script, around whose plotting and conniving the subsequent scenes of the story play out. It is a very clever screenplay, and just the type of work that Laughton loved to sink his teeth into. Durbin and Cummings are the romance waiting to happen, and they add considerable humor in their efforts to deal with the changes as the plot unfolds. We wonder how long it will be until the inevitable happens. On the outskirts of this are a fiancé and wannabe mother- in-law, whom we know don't stand a chance after the opening scene. The musical score for this film is quite good and received an Oscar nomination. Laughton was just 42-years old when he made this film, playing here someone around 60. I thought it was interesting that he was supposed to have lost considerable weight. Indeed, even with the much over-sized clothing used for his part, he doesn't have the heavier physical appearance of later films – or of some of his earlier films. He always was a rotund person, but perhaps he had a period around this time in which he lost some weight. I noted a bit of interesting trivia under his IMDb biography. Laughton apparently was the first actor to play Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. He starred in the stage play of "Alibi" in 1928. He also is said to have discovered actress Maureen O'Hara. Here are some sample comedy lines from the movie. Jonathan, Johnny and the doctor are walking up the stairs together. Johnny, "How do you feel, dad?" Jonathan, "How do I know? Ask him."Doctor Harvey, "Jonathan, I have a very pleasant surprise for you." Jonathan, "How long will you be gone?"A waiter brings a huge fancy drink (the kind tourists fawn over in Hawaii and other exotic places) to the table in the nightclub. Anne, "What's that?" Jonathan, "It's a Reynold's Special." Anne, "Oh, but you shouldn't be dri …..what's in it?" Jonathan, "Oh, it's, uh, nothing but coconut milk and vegetable juices, and Dr. Harvey orders it for me. It's a … (he takes a big sip through straws) .. It's horrible." Anne, "Then why do you drink it?" Jonathan, "Well, because it reminds me of Dr. Harvey, and it makes me hate him and when I hate him I feel good."

edwagreen Absolutely delicious 1941 comedy where Charles Laughton proved his versatility in acting. He is an absolute riot here as an elderly tycoon taken to bed for what is supposed to be a fatal illness. He wants to see his son's fiancée and when she isn't around, Bob Cummings, in a restrained, but memorable performance, finds Diana Durbin, a hat-check girl at a local night club, to pretend that she is that girl. All hell breaks loose when of course, Laughton makes a remarkable recovery. He knows everyone in the music industry and Durbin takes full advantage of the situation.Walter Catlett is hysterical as the perplexed doctor and he is ably assisted by Clara Blandick, his nurse.Laughton does a memorable conga at a local night-club with Durbin. The ending may well be predictable, but it's fun and very much amusing to see this film.The film also proves that medicine is still a mystery.

blanche-2 Let's see - you're a classically trained singer with a gorgeous voice, you're pretty, a good actress, highly paid...and all you want is to get out of show business.That's Deanna Durbin's story, and thank goodness, she didn't get her wish until she made films like "It Started with Eve," also starring Charles Laughton and Robert Cummings.Durbin plays Anne Terry, a hat check girl trying to make it as a classical singer. One night, she is drafted by Johnny Reynolds Jr. (Cummings) who believes his father (Laughton) is dying. His father has insisted on meeting his fiancée, but when Johnny returns to the hotel to find her, she and her mother (Margaret Tallichet and Catherine Doucet) aren't in their room. Desperate, he offers Anne money if she will pose as his fiancée. Anne wants to return home to her family, so the money will come in handy. She accompanies him to his father's deathbed.Well, Jonathan Reynolds Sr. rallies! He's not going to die, and his son may well -- he now has two fiancées. Jonathan Sr. plans a party for all his high falutin' friends, including people like Leopold Stokowski, to meet Anne and to have her sing for them.Johnny Jr. is in a pickle and tells Anne that he will say that they broke up and then introduce his father to his real fiancée, whom Reynolds Sr.'s doctor will bring to the house. But Anne wants to sing at the party, so after he announces the big breakup, Anne rushes in and begs forgiveness.Robert Cummings, a huge star in television, was usually second tier in films. He always excelled in comedy, and he does a great job here. Laughton, playing a man who's supposedly dying, looks quite gaunt and is, of course, marvelous as a man who has a great relationship with Anne and grows fond of her.Deanna Durbin herself acts and sings like a dream and looks beautiful. Her warm personality shines through. She sings "Clavelitos," "Goin' Home," "When I Sing," and "Ahi, viene la conga" impressively."It Started with Eve," is a fast-moving, fun, highly entertaining film with moments of poignancy. This film marked the end of Deanna Durbin's work with producer Joe Pasternak and director Henry Koster; Pasternak went to MGM, and Deanna went on suspension for turning down a script. In the end, she was given approval of her directors, stories and songs.Hard to believe this songbird, now 90, retired at the age of 26 and never looked back. It's a tribute to her that 64 years post-retirement, Deanna Durbin still has plenty of fans.

jjnxn-1 Charming comedy marks the high point of Deanna Durbin's career. As a sweet girl caught up in a ridiculous situation she is completely winning matched with the great Charles Laughton having a whale of a time as the supposedly sick but determined father of Robert Cummings.Speaking of Cummings he was never more than a light comic leading man, he could be adequate from time to time in drama: Saboteur is a good example of that, but he is funny here as the flummoxed son trying to do the right thing but pulled in different directions. As good as he is this belongs to Deanna and Laughton. She is sassy, looks great and sings like a dream. On top of that she delivers an assured comic performance and manages to hold the screen against Laughton which isn't easy to do especially when he is in full on imp mode as he is here. He is flat out hilarious always with a twinkle in his eye. Margaret Tallichet who plays Bob's fiancée whose delay sets the whole plot in motion only made one more film after this retiring to spend many happy years as the wife of William Wyler. She makes a good showing but is sidelined by Catherine Doucet playing her grasping necklace twirling mother.