Customer Reviews

Love in the Afternoon

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Billy Wilder was not one of those "slice of life" Directors. In all his films he favours the eccentric, or at least a very unconventional situations. In LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON he focuses on a type of romance not exactly promoted by Guidance Councellors in any High School programmes.
His Arienne is quite probably slightly mad. Not an unlikely result from having a Maurice Chevalier as your sole parent. There can be no other reasons why she should pursue a very old and somewhat unbending Gary Cooper. But no matter that. Wilder is no moralist and instead focuses his attention on the comic elements arising out of the situation.
This is the most musical non Musical I know off, and not just because of the frequent appearance of a String Quartet. Hepburn, Chevalier and Cooper themselves are like a musical Trio. No one could deliver her lines like Audrey Hepburn and here she is at her lilting best, almost like a songbird. In fact, all the visual embellishments of this film, such as the little dog, the cello, the fur coat weave their way in and out of the plot like melodic strands in some piece of Chamber Music.
Every time I see this film I like it more and more. The black and white cinematography is superb and comes out well on DVD. The scenes between Hepburn and Chevalier are priceless. The choice of Gary Cooper has been critizised in some quarters, but his Rock of Gibralter solidness and his All-American masculinity provide the perfect counterfoil to the flighty feminity of the Chevalier character.
It may well be as Hepburn and Cooper elope in the train in the final scene that she is abandoning the Mother figure (Chevalier) for a life with a Father she longs for but never knew. It's a terrific ending, but not one designed to cater to the sentiments of the Moral Majority.

Well I read all of the Amazon reviews before I watched this movie, and really, they were pretty justified. But the only thing I disagree with that some people feel so strongly about was the age difference between Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn.

This was the 50's. That wasn't unusual, and the thing is 'they' had to place Audrey with the hottest actors of the time. I mean, compare this movie to 'Funny Face', Fred Astaire, well he was WAY older then her, but no, it didn't matter. Enough about that...

This movie was so adorable- probably my favourite Audrey Hepburn film. The little thing that are said and done in this movie have the potential to make you cry. It's just a great movie all around!

With two of Hollywood's most glamorous stars, and (despite the silly plot) a sharp and witty script, this film is an evergreen, and one I never tire of watching.
Audrey Hepburn is enchanting as the spunky "Thin Girl", a cello student who falls in love with a millionaire playboy bachelor, played with grace and charm (and quite a bit of humor) by Gary Cooper. Hepburn was 28 at the time, and looked younger, Cooper was 56, and looked perhaps older, but despite the age difference, their chemistry together sparkles and sizzles.

The romantic cat and mouse game played by Hepburn to intrigue and win Cooper's heart is all very innocent and sweet, and I always shed a few tears at the magical ending.
Maurice Chevalier as Hepburn's father, a private detective specializing in matters of love and deception is fabulous, and gets most of the funny lines, and John McGiver, as one of Chevalier's jealous husband clients, is also very amusing.

The b & w cinematography by William Mellor is exceptional, and how the camera loves Audrey, looking exquisite in an array of beautiful gowns. There is also a quartet called "The Gypsies", who serenade the lovers throughout the film with some terrific czardas, and the melodic song "Fascination".
Light, frothy, and thoroughly enjoyable, this is one of Billy Wilder's most delightful films, and it's a treasure for Hepburn and Cooper fans.
Total running time is 130 minutes.

"Love in the Afternoon" is a cute but superficial romance. I realize that some elements of the film are intended as a satire on French cinema of the time, but Wilder went too far in a few instances, in my opinion.

Audrey Hepburn is beautiful, as always, in her excellent performance as a young music student who falls madly in love with American playboy Gary Cooper, a visitor in her native Paris. Both actors are elegantly funny and exchange witty banter, but a few elements of the relationship were quite disturbing and just TOO unrealistic. First, Cooper looks every bit of his 56 years, while Hepburn appears to be a college freshman. Second, why doesn't Cooper immediately realize that virginal Hepburn isn't the flighty young woman she claims to be? His ignorance is astounding. Third, the ending is just too over-the-top. This film was cute, especially watching Hepburn recount her many, many (fictional) affairs to a perplexed Cooper, but if you really want to see a good Hepburn romance, get "Roman Holiday" or "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Those two films top this one any day.

Audrey Hepburn delivers a wonderful performance as a naive young music student who falls hopelessly in love with a much older playboy American tourist. Both Hepburn and Cooper are funny, and their witty banter is wonderful. I know this is a comedy, and partly a satire, but I was disturbed by several aspects of this film. First, the age differences between the two characters is a bit disturbing. Cooper looks every bit of his 56 years, while Hepburn looks like a college freshman. Second, couldn't the worldly Cooper tell that virginal Hepburn wasn't the flighty woman she claimed to be? Third, I was also disturbed by the "happily ever after" ending. Maybe my tastes are a little superior to this film (I much more prefer the ending to "Roman Holiday," a much better romantic comedy), but I simply could not swallow the final scene. Other than that, this film is a cute romantic comedy, especially the scenes where Hepburn describes her many (fictional) love affairs. Worth a viewing, but this one isn't being added to my DVD collection, even though I am an avid Audrey fan.

What an innocent film... an older man... a younger girl... sounds more like obsession than facination. However, Billy Wilder tells his little tale with complete tongue in cheek. The aging Gary Cooper was perfect for this role. His star was fading from Hollywood. He only had a few more decent roles after this one before he passed away, much too young. Here he is in a rare comedic performance that is far from being fraternal. Leacherous is more like it.

Enter I. A. Diamond, Wilder's best collaborator. Along with BW, they crafted a rather coy and innocent script that satisfies many middle aged men's fantasies about loving a girl less than half their age. Hepburn is her usual beautiful alluring self, decked out in Givency, and looking "maw-velous!" Funny and sad at the same time with a twist at the end, this film is a must to collect for fans of Wilder and his special comedic talent.

I was seeking a romantic movie this afternoon, and came across this one in my mom's collection. i thought why not? i mean i looooooooooove audrey hepburn to a fault, and the title went nicely with my predicament, so i watched it. As always hepburn was amazing. the story was cliche...nice girl falls for bad boy, but it was portrayed in a very non-cliche way. i was actually happily surprised by the slight innuendos, and didnt even notice the age difference between the two leading roles, which was why i was first hesitant to pick it up. (a huge misjudgement on my part). All around great movie, with a lovely ending.

A very experienced womaniser is rescued from a jealous husband by the innocent daughter of the detective hired by the husband. Then, of course the girl immediately falls for the playboy charms; champagne at Ritz, musicians, deluxe picnics, tux and gray hair with excellent manners. Nevertheless, the playboy slowly falls for the innocent looking girl who makes him jealous with stories of many other affairs which in fact just appears in the files of her father. This sounds so cliche and a bit triste, but the direction, the scene (Paris) and the actors are so good that I was romanced by the movie. The music-Fascination is just perfect. I also love the chello carrying Audrey with short hair and the mystery of "afternoon love" The ending, which is so critical in this type of movie cause could turn it into a stupid melodrama is well adjusted. Last words:I wish these classic playboys still existed and romanced me with private musicians

At first I thought the movie was a little slow-paced, but I kept watching because I love Hepburn and Cooper. Then I got frustrated that Hepburn's character would fall for such a slimeball. Who could fall for a man like that?!!! Then he began to charm me and I realized that women fall in love for no good reason a lot of the time. I was extremely amused at the way Hepburn's character could spin a good story and tell a believable bold-faced lie and make Cooper's character jealous. It became a hightly facinating story. I love how old movie can put sex so delicately into a film without having to show anyone undressed. The directing and story-telling is done extremely well. I was very moved as I watched a man unwillingly fall deeply in love. Something about the plot reminded me of the recent Down With Love movie. Although this is not a movie I would watch over and over, it is one of the best movies I have ever seen.

I remember watching this movie years ago and being completely spellbound and captivated by Audrey's appearance. She looks especially attractive during and after the opera scene with a gorgeous dress by Givenchy.She is a true delight to look at and her unique features certainly show.I will never grow tired after watching an Audrey Hepburn movie and this movie is proof positive.Thanks Audrey for being such a lovely and attractive lady.