Unfaithfully Yours Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A fancy dude thinks his wife’s cheating, so he conducts revenge fantasies that turn into a real-life comedy of errors with a lot of broken furniture.

🍿 Unfaithfully Yours: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Seeds of Suspicion

Sir Alfred De Carter, a renowned symphony conductor, is deeply in love with his younger wife, Daphne. However, upon his return from a tour, his brother-in-law, August, informs him that he hired a detective to watch Daphne, leading to a report suggesting infidelity. Despite his initial outrage, Alfred reads the report and grows increasingly suspicious.

Fantasies of Revenge

During a concert performance, Alfred’s jealousy consumes him. As he conducts pieces by Rossini, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky, he imagines three distinct scenarios to deal with Daphne’s alleged affair. These fantasies range from elaborate murder plots to saintly forgiveness and dramatic suicide.

Reality Bites

Inspired by his fantasies, Alfred attempts to enact his revenge. However, his plans quickly unravel, turning into a series of comedic mishaps. From faulty recording equipment to clumsy attempts at creating incriminating evidence, his efforts descend into slapstick chaos.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sir Alfred De Carter (Rex Harrison): A haughty symphony conductor consumed by jealousy and suspicion, imagining elaborate revenge scenarios against his wife.
• Daphne De Carter (Linda Darnell): The beautiful and younger wife of Sir Alfred, suspected of infidelity, though seemingly innocent.
• August Henshler (Rudy Vallee): Sir Alfred’s brother-in-law whose meddling and hiring of a detective spark the suspicion.
• Barbara Henshler (Barbara Lawrence): August’s sarcastic wife who often makes barbed remarks about her husband.
• Tony Windborn (Kurt Kreuger): Sir Alfred’s handsome young secretary, mistakenly suspected of having an affair with Daphne.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Alfred: “Have you ever heard of Russian Roulette?” – Alfred sarcastically asks Daphne, showcasing his disbelief that she would engage in such a dangerous game.
• Alfred: “I doubt that you played Russian Roulette all the time with your father!” – Expressing his disbelief and disdain upon learning of Daphne’s supposed game with her father.
• Alfred: “That’s Russian Bank. Russian Roulette’s a very different amusement which I can only wish your father had played continuously before he had you!” – Alfred’s cutting remark reveals his dark humor and anger toward Daphne’s supposed infidelity.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,647,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: $2,450,000
• Worldwide Gross: $2,450,000

💥 Unfaithfully Yours Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I watched ‘Unfaithfully Yours’ last night and I have to say, it was a wild ride! I went in expecting a stuffy old movie, but instead, I got a laugh riot. Rex Harrison is brilliant as this conductor who’s basically losing his mind over his wife’s ‘alleged’ infidelity. The whole ‘fantasy revenge’ sequence during the concert was just pure genius. And when he tries to actually carry out his plan? Total chaos! I was cracking up the entire time. Definitely a movie that surprised me in the best way possible, I will be recommending this film to everyone!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic black comedies”
  • “Viewers interested in witty dialogue”
  • “Admirers of Rex Harrison’s performance”
  • “Those who appreciate films with a musical backdrop”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Themes of infidelity”
  • “Brief depictions of violence (in fantasy sequences)”
  • “Implied suicidal thoughts”

Professional Reviews

• The Wrap: “Unfaithfully Yours is a cinematic symphony of suspicion, jealousy, and slapstick, masterfully orchestrated by Preston Sturges. Rex Harrison delivers a tour-de-force performance as a conductor consumed by paranoid fantasies, while Linda Darnell adds elegance as the maybe-or-maybe-not unfaithful wife. The film’s blend of highbrow wit and lowbrow humor is both jarring and utterly captivating, making it a unique entry in the black comedy genre.
• Den of Geek: “Rex Harrison shines in Preston Sturges’ Unfaithfully Yours as a symphony conductor whose jealousy gets the best of him. While conducting, he dreams of revenge, giving the film a unique musical twist. It’s a comedy of errors that showcases the absurdities of male ego and marital suspicion, a true classic!

Audience Reactions

The slapstick scenes were hilarious and unexpected, especially Rex Harrison stepping through all those chairs.: The blend of high-brow wit and low-brow humor is uniquely entertaining, making it a memorable classic.

Overall Consensus: A classic black comedy known for its witty dialogue, stellar performances, and unique blend of sophistication and slapstick, though some find the humor dated or overdone.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Rex Harrison was blind in his left eye due to childhood measles. The camera zooms in on his left eye before each fantasy sequence.”
• “The ‘recording machine’ used by Rex Harrison was actually a Garrard RC-100 record changer from 1938.”
• “Darryl Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox, heavily interfered with Preston Sturges’ vision for the film, leading to significant cuts and changes.”
• “The film’s initial failure was compounded by a real-life scandal involving Rex Harrison and Carole Landis, which negatively impacted its box office prospects.”

🖥️ How to Watch Unfaithfully Yours?

Currently, ‘Unfaithfully Yours’ is available for purchase or rental on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Check your local listings for potential streaming options or cable availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Unfaithfully Yours, you might like these similar films:

• The Palm Beach Story (1942): Another Preston Sturges classic with witty dialogue and unconventional characters.
• Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949): A British black comedy where the protagonist imagines different outcomes for murdering his relatives.
• Monsieur Verdoux (1947): Chaplin’s dark comedy deals with murder in a darkly humorous way, similar to the revenge fantasies.

🛒 Unfaithfully Yours Related Products

• Criterion Collection: Unfaithfully Yours (Blu-ray): A pristine restoration of the film, includes insightful commentary and interviews with film scholars and Sturges’s widow. Experience the brilliance of Sturges in high definition.
• Preston Sturges: Five Classic Comedies (DVD): Includes “Unfaithfully Yours” alongside other Sturges masterpieces like “The Lady Eve” and “Sullivan’s Travels”. A great introduction to the director’s work.
• Unfaithfully Yours Movie Poster (Reprint): A high-quality reprint of the original movie poster. A unique way to show love for this classic movie. Suitable for framing and display.
• Rex Harrison: An Autobiography: Read about the life and career of Rex Harrison. Discover more about his role in the film and his life in theatre. Learn the stories behind the scenes of this brilliant actor.

🎧 Soundtrack

Unfaithfully Yours features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Francesca da Rimini, Opus 32” – performed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
• “Semiramide Overture” – performed by Gioachino Rossini
• “Tannhäuser Overture” – performed by Richard Wagner

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Unfaithfully Yours (Welcome To The Basement)

Ever wonder what it’s like to watch ‘Unfaithfully Yours’ with a group of friends who’ve never seen it? This video captures that fun, offering a spontaneous and engaging review that highlights some of the film’s most hilarious and thought-provoking moments. I especially enjoy when they talk about the ending, I never thought about it that way!

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