The Grass Is Greener

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	Noel Coward
Cinematography	Christopher Challis
Editing by	James Clark
Distributed by	Universal
Release date(s)	December 23, 1960
Running time	104 min.
Language	English
Box office	$6 million (US)

The Grass Is Greener is a 1960 comedy film featuring an ensemble cast consisting of screen veterans Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Jean Simmons,directed by Stanley Donen. 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, jealousy and other strong emotions that eventually leads the gentlemen to a duel with pistols.

Set Design

British interior decorator Felix Harbord served as the film's special consultant for settings.

Reception

While the film was a moderate success at the U.K. box office, it fared much worse in the United States. Reviews of the film were mostly lukewarm. Despite its initial failure, 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.

Cast

• Cary Grant as Victor, Earl of Rhyall
• Deborah Kerr as Hilary, Countess of Rhyall
• Robert Mitchum as Charles Delacro
• Jean Simmons as Hattie Durant
• Moray Watson as Trevor Sellers, the Butler

External links

• The Grass Is Greener at the Internet Movie Database