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

Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

SimonJack "The Notorious Landlady" is a comedy mystery that also is a light satire. It does a little spoofing of the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department. It pokes some fun at Scotland Yard, busy bodies of the time, and of the press. I suspect that a number of viewers might miss the gentle rubs and pokes of satire. The movie is somewhat based on a story by Margery Sharp that appeared in Collier's Weekly Magazine of Feb. 3, 1956. The plot is okay for a mystery, but the parts of two of the main characters aren't very well scripted or acted. Those are Kim Novak as Carly Hardwicke and Fred Astaire as Franklyn Ambruster. Novak does okay in roles in which she plays a sultry, mysterious character. She was just right for "Vertigo" and "Bell, Book and Candle." Her part here is somewhat that way. But it also calls for a little more life than she is able to muster. At least one other reviewer noted Novak's limits as an actress. The film credits did note, though, that she made her own gowns. Fred Astaire doesn't quite fit the role of a Foreign Service officer in the State Department. His Franklyn Ambruster seems about ready to break into song and dance any moment. So, the load of the acting is carried by Jack Lemmon as Bill Gridley. And Lemmon is up to the task. The best part of this film is the crispy script with the witty exchanges of dialog between Lemmon's and Astaire's characters. Incidentally, references in the story line and reviews to Fred Astaire's part as being the ambassador are ridiculous. There's nothing in the script or screenplay that identifies him as such. And the scenes of his office in the embassy are further evidence to the contrary. The American embassy in England is the largest U.S. embassy in Europe. Other movies that show ambassadors' digs in Europe correctly show large, rather regal offices, befitting the positions. They have outer offices and waiting areas that are more elaborate than Astaire's small one-chair inner office in this film. They usually have the prime spot with commanding views, a huge desk, sofas and elaborate decorations. Astaire's office in this film is one of many along a long a corridor of plain doors. Astaire's job isn't spelled out in the film or screenplay, but he's understood to be the chief of some unnamed section or office within the embassy. Indeed, the New York Times and other papers that reviewed the movie on its opening, referred to Astaire as a chief or boss within the American embassy. But none called him the ambassador. The court room scene toward the end is the most interesting part, and the film builds to a climax with a funny and frenzied chase at the end. My favorite line in the film is by Inspector Oliphant (Lionel Jeffries). He says to Bill Gridley, "I am merely illustrating for you the homicidal tendencies of the fair sex. Females make not only loving wives and devoted mothers, but very efficient killers, bless them."Here are some more good zingers. For more witty dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie. Franklyn Ambruster, "We go where we can serve, not necessarily where we can amuse ourselves." Bill Gridley, "Oh, I wasn't complaining, sir." Ambruster, "Of course not."Ambruster, "Be prepared to give us a report on the report in the morning." Gridley, "Right, sir."Carly Hardwicke, "You didn't learn to mambo like this in Saudi Arabia." Bill Gridley, "No, South America. Student riot." Hardwicke, "Hmmm?" Gridley, "Well, you had to move something or everything was over."Bill Gridley, "You want me to be a male Mata Hari?"Ambruster, "I want you to know that I have no intention of watching you go down the drain and using my career as a raft."Gridley, "Sir, if I may, I don't think you're taking the proper share of the blame…" Franklyn Ambruster, "Gridley, you will learn that the higher your position, the more mistakes you're allowed. In fact, if you make enough of them, it's considered your style. Now you happen to be in what I would call a one-mistake position, and you've made it."Ambruster, "Gridley couldn't have done that." Inspector Oliphant, "Maybe not, sir, but the death rate has certainly gone up since he arrived in London."

blanche-2 Kim Novak is "The Notorious Landlady" in this 1962 Columbia film starring Jack Lemmon, Fred Astaire, Estelle Winwood, and Lionel Jeffries.William Gridley (Lemmon) is a junior diplomat assigned to London who comes to look at rooms for rent by one Mrs. Hardwicke (Novak). As soon as Gridley lays eyes on her, he wants the room. At first she says she's the maid and can't rent to him, but she drops the pretense and allows herself to be talked into giving him the rooms, though she preferred a couple.When his boss, Franklyn Ambruster (Astaire) hears the name of Gridley's landlady, it sounds familiar. It takes him a couple of minutes to find out that she is suspected of murdering her husband and remains the talk of London. The police, headed up by Inspector Oliphant, want Gridley to see what he can find out. Gridley, of course, is sure that his landlady is incapable of murder.The plot thickens and so does the comedy, leading to an atypical trial and finally to a chase scene out of the Keystone Kops. Along the way there's blackmail, fire, a witness, poison, and a few other things.As good as I thought this film was, and as much as I like Kim Novak (who designed her own clothes and they're gorgeous - she could have had a second career) I thought she could have added to the comedy a little more, although she's just fine as the beautiful, mysterious Mrs. Hardwicke. Jack Lemmon is delightful as the confused Gridley, and Lionel Jeffries is a standout as the exasperated Inspector. Fred Astaire makes an elegant Ambruster. Estelle Winwood, as an elderly neighborhood, is on hand for some fun comedy.Very entertaining film, recommended, especially given the stars. Written by Larry Gelbart and Blake Edwards.

bkoganbing Jack Lemmon, rising young man in the United States State Department hasn't a clue when he rents a room from Kim Novak who turns out to be a fellow American in London. He also doesn't know she's The Notorious Landlady whose husband has gone missing and Scotland Yard thinks she did him in.Americans in the diplomatic corps are supposed to be scandal free, even more so back in 1962 so poor Lemmon doesn't know what he's walked into. But his supervisor Fred Astaire does and he wants him to leave. But Lionel Jeffries of Scotland Yard thinks he'd make one great unofficial undercover man. So in the spirit of the alliance that defeated Hitler, Astaire agrees.Later on after a hilarious barbecue scene nearly burns Novak's place down and gets the State Department unwanted publicity, Astaire wants to transfer Lemmon to Tierra Del Fuego, but Novak actually comes up and charms him into letting him stay. So much so that Astaire now wants to play Sherlock Holmes and solve the case himself or at least be Watson to Lemmon's Holmes.Jack and Kim make a lovely couple in danger, 25 years earlier I could have seen Cary Grant and Carole Lombard in their parts. But when you set out to make a stylish comedy, casting Fred Astaire is always a stroke of genius. Director Richard Quine even had the good sense to acquire Astaire's classic, A Foggy Day from the defunct RKO studio where he introduced it in Damsel In Distress to use as background music. It's used to great affect on one of those foggy London nights where both of them are trailing Novak.In the last half hour their sleuthing pays off and a rather intricate mystery is solved. Lionel Jeffries makes a dogged and determined Inspector Lestrade like Scotland Yard man, who if truth be told is one of the sleazier members of that organization ever portrayed on screen.The joint creative hands who wrote The Notorious Landlady were Blake Edwards and Larry Gelbart. Can't do better than that for style and wit.

AndreaValery I just bought this video from a reputable company. I was quite surprised to see that it was available - it has been out of circulation for years. One person told me long ago that it had never been put on video. That person was obviously misinformed.The video itself is not in the best condition. The film is in black and white and there are several moments of white glare, followed by excessive darkness. There are some breaks and pops, just like my old LP's.These visual defects, strangely enough, added to my enjoyment, for they gave the movie a vintage quality. Indeed, one has the feeling that this movie could have been made in the 1930's or 1940's. This film is a direct descendant of earlier screwball comedies and screwball mysteries such as the Thin Man. Kim Novak looks at times like Jean Harlow and the scenes of London are a wistful reminder of how very British the city once was. The clever plot revolves around the question of Mrs. Hardwicke played by Kim Novak. Is she or is she not guilty of murder? Briefly Bill Gridley wrestles with himself over this issue, but his attraction to her gets the upper hand. Hey, what's one dead husband when you're in love?An unexpected event leads to a zany trial and last but not least to a madcap chase straight out of a Buster Keaton comedy. Lovely Kim really has trouble keeping her hat on as she tears through the fields in pursuit of poor Estelle Winwood.I found Jack Lemmon in top form, contrary to one commentary posted here. He is completely natural, without the slightest hint of effort. But he usually is this way.Casting Fred Astaire was a stroke of genius - his presence adds even more vintage, and I mean vintage in the most complimentary sense. He is a real asset and I wish he had just danced a little.All in all, great fun.