The Grass Is Greener

This article is about the 1960 film. For other uses, see The Grass Is Greener (disambiguation).
The Grass Is Greener
Directed by Stanley Donen
Produced by Stanley Donen
James H. Ware
Written by Hugh Williams
Margaret Vyner
Starring Cary Grant
Deborah Kerr
Robert Mitchum
Jean Simmons
Music by Noël Coward
Cinematography Christopher Challis
Edited by James Clark
Production
company
Grandon Productions Ltd
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
  • 23 December 1960
Running time
 104 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Box office $6 million (US)[1]

The Grass Is Greener is a 1960 comedy film directed by Stanley Donen and starring Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Jean Simmons. The film was adapted by Hugh Williams and Margaret Vyner from the play of the same name which they had written and found success with in London's West End.

Plot

The Earl and Countess of Rhyall (Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr) are facing financial troubles and are therefore forced to permit guided tours of their stately home.

A suave, somewhat obnoxious American oil tycoon, Charles Delacro (Robert Mitchum), barges into the lady of the manor's private quarters, either deliberately or by mistake. He introduces himself, explaining the family name was originally "Delacroix" but his grandfather tired of Americans pronouncing the "X" in the name.

Delacro's attentions to the Countess turn her head. Rather than behave jealously, the Earl invites the American to come visit, along with an equally grating ex-girlfriend of Lord Rhyall's, the American heiress Hattie Durant (Jean Simmons).

A love triangle (or quadrangle) soon develops, kicking off a tale of love and jealousy.

Cast

Set design

British interior decorator Felix Harbord served as the film's special consultant for settings. Osterley Park was used as the location for the stately home.

Reception

While the film was a adequate success at the United Kingdom box office, the film was a box office bomb in the United States. Reviews of the film were negative. Despite being a united states box office bomb, the film has since developed a following and has been a staple of American cable television. At the time of its release, Jean Simmons's performance as a madcap heiress earned some praise and a Laurel Award nomination.

References

  1. ↑ "The Grass is Greener - Box Office Data". The Numbers. Retrieved 14 November 2011.

External links