The Grass Is Greener (1960)

 

The Grass Is Greener - 1960

Our next film is 1960's "The Grass Is Greener", in which we find an upper class British couple come to a crossroads in their marriage when a third party arrives on the scene.  Will the wife stay with what is comfortable or embark on an adventure with someone new?

The film's cast includes Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons, and Moray Watson.

Victor and Hilary are the Earl and Countess of Rhyall.  Besides having their estate eat up a large portion of their income, Victor and Hilary seem to be a loving couple.

Because of their financial difficulties, the Rhyalls are forced to do what so many stately homes have done: open up for tours.

Wealthy American Charles Delacro drifts away from the tour and wanders into the private family rooms, where he meets Hilary.  At first a little annoyed, Hilary warms up to Charles.

They spend a large portion of the afternoon together, with Hilary falling a little in love with Charles.  He tells her that he is staying in London.

After finding herself a little distracted because of thinking about Charles, Hilary decides to head up to London and see him.  Victor (who knows all about Hilary's infatuation) reads from the Bible, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife".

In London, Hilary meets up with Charles and the two embark on an affair.

Back in the country, Victor gets a visitor of his own, a former girlfriend named Hattie.  Victor confides to Hattie that he wants Hilary to come back because SHE wants to come back, or not at all.

Victor hits on the idea to invite Charles to the country for the weekend.  Charles delightfully accepts in the invitation.  Both Hattie and Hilary think that the men are crazy.

Once he's at the estate, Victor takes Charles out for some fishing.  To Victor's annoyance, Charles stays very dry while Victor falls into a deep hole.

The love triangle is on full show during the evening.  During a Scrabble game, Hilary plays the word "fidelity" to which Victor adds "in" to the beginning.  "I think that put us in the lead," says an amused Hattie.

Victor later tells Charles that he knows all about what he and Hilary got up to in London and he has an idea to settle the situation once and for all.

He arranges to have a duel with Charles.  The duel takes place in a long corridor of the mansion.  Victor also arranges to be shot in the arm by the butler, who is discreetly hidden.

While she tends to his wounded arm, Hilary and Victor talk things through.  Hilary realizes that her place is with Victor and she loves him more than ever.

She bids goodbye to Charles, and he departs the next day.  He doesn't leave emptyhanded though.  Hattie accompanies him.

Cast rundown:

   Cary Grant.......................Victor, Earl of Rhyall

   Deborah Kerr....................Hilary, Countess of Rhyall

   Robert Mitchum................Charles Delacro

   Jean Simmons..................Hattie Durant

   Moray Watson..................Trevor Sellers

And that's it for The Grass Is Greener.  Originally, Cary Grant was offered the part but turned it down.  Rex Harrison accepted the role of Victor, but had to back out when his wife became seriously ill.  Grant accepted the role in consideration of the cast and crew and wanting to keep the filming on schedule.  The movie was filmed at Osterley Park.

During the film's opening credits, small children are used to great comic effect.  I particularly like this one, which portrays a little girl playing dress-up alongside the credits for the costumes.

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