Product Description

A delightful British comedy of manners based on Frederick Lonsdale's popular play. Adapted, produced, directed and starring Clive Brook, "On Approval" is the story of a trial marriage on a remote island, a tame idea by today's standards, but shocking set in 1890! Much admired for its cinematic cleverness and sparkling quips, today's connoisseurs will also enjoy the tour-de-force ensemble acting. Named one of the ten best pictures of the year by Time Magazine.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78048 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-08-03
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 80 minutes

Customer Reviews

How did I ever get hold of this DVD???
With a friend in the movie business - that's how. This is one of the funniest films if you have anything which can be described as an education. It's unlikely to appeal to anyone whose idea of humour is visual and as subtle as a train wreck.

If you like sharp quick humour - the lines are superb, the wit is on full automatic and much of the script has given future writers something to chew on and regurgitate. Clive Brook has the viperous tongue that made the likes of WC Fields, Noel Coward, etc. His rapier-like wit is balanced by the caustic Beatrice Lille who makes a perfect foil to Brook's latent chauvinism and Googie Withers who plays the softly-spoken American heiress who is impervious to his egocentricity.

Only one comment to any PC types - don't take the comments at the beginning too seriously - remember its 1939 and a woman's place is not yet on the boardroom table.

Whilst among most moviegoers today, it is obviously anachronistic in that people actually dressed in more than a reversed baseball cap and baggy shorts, the putdowns would serve any budding stand-up today. This is comedy which is fifty years ahead of it's time - and in some places quite risque. It's time that this play made it back to the stage again as it is perfect for theatre with only four main characters and 90% filmed indoors.

A minor masterpiece of sophisticated light comedy
This is a sophisticated, light comedy of the highest order. It works at every level: acting, directing, pacing, production. Especially for those who tend to appreciate the often higher caliber expertise of movie-making out of the 1940s, this movie will be bright and fresh. It holds its own with the best of that era, yet is so rarely seen today that even connoisseurs of sophisticated satire and gentle wit scarcely know of its existence. For anyone who enjoys ironic word plays, playfully disparaging witticisms, and occasionally biting satire upon upper-class manners -- all done in grand style -- this movie is a joy to experience. The DVD release corrects the sound and other technical problems of the VHS version, allowing the movie to be recommended without reservation for those who appreciate this style of comedy. Don't miss this one!

Mannered, amusing, and slightly malicious
I won't recap the storyline, but will only add to what others have said. On Approval is an extremely amusing comedy of upper class British manners. It is wickedly malicious without being mean-spirited. The four leads play off each other flawlessly. Clive Brook, who also wrote and directed the film, is priceless as an aristocrat who finds it entirely reasonable to take his pleasures at the expense of others.

Brook is largely forgotten now, but he was a major British actor in his time. He made only one movie after this, 1963's List of Adrian Messenger. At 76 he could still command the screen, even when sharing scenes with George C. Scott.

The DVD's look and sound is very good.