Darling, How Could You! [Rendezvous] ** (1951, Joan Fontaine, John Lund, Mona Freeman, Peter Hanson) – Classic Movie Review 13,675

The 1951 black and white American period comedy film Darling, How Could You! stars Joan Fontaine, John Lund, Mona Freeman, and Peter Hanson.

Director Mitchell Leisen’s 1951 black and white Paramount Pictures American period comedy film Darling, How Could You! [Rendezvous] stars Joan Fontaine, John Lund, Mona Freeman, and Peter Hanson.

Darling, How Could You! Is a mildly pleasing production of a 1905 J M Barrie play (Alice Sit-by-the-Fire), in which, in late 1906, a girl, Amy Grey (Mona Freeman), fantasises about the exploits of her parents, particularly her mother, apparently enjoying an affair.

Joan Fontaine, as mother Mrs Alice Grey, is the top treat, while John Lund is acceptable as dad Dr Robert Grey, in a rather unstarry but acceptable cast.

But the material is a bit creaky and there is no zest in the handling. Plus there is no colour when it is needed.

After her great success in the Forties, Joan Fontaine’s film career was beginning to decline, but she had one more big hit in Ivanhoe (1952).

Cast: Joan Fontaine, John Lund, Mona Freeman, Peter Hanson, David Stollery, Lowell Gilmore, Robert Barrat, Gertrude Michael, Virginia Farmer, Angela Clarke, Mary Murphy, Frank Elliott, Billie Bird, Willard Waterman, Gordon Arnold, John Bryant, Percy Helton, Charles Sherlock, Houseley Stevenson, Kathryn Towne, Dave Willock, Jimmie Dundee, Dolores Hall, Robin Hughes.

Release date: August 8, 1951.

Darling, How Could You! [Rendezvous] is directed by Mitchell Leisen, runs 96 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Dodie Smith and Lesser Samuels, is shot in black and white by Daniel L Fapp, is produced by Harry Tugend, is scored by Frederick Hollander, and is designed by Hal Pereira.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,675

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