From the excellent period costumes and detail (the 1930's) to the luxurious, well-appointed sets, to the vibrant colors (check out the red lipstick), "Love In A Cold Climate" can stand next to "Imitation of Life," "All That Heaven Allows," "Written on the Wind," and other Technicolor Sirk hits.
Each of the three women who are the focus of the film has traits that viewers can identify with as they follow the girls' pursuit of love.
Fanny Logan is the quiet, sensible, conservative woman who marries a college professor and lives a routine but satisfying life. Haven't we all had moments of longing for that sort of secure life?
Linda Radlett, Fanny's cousin, has the romantic life we've all fantasized about. First, she marries Tony Kroesig, wealthy son of a banker, who appears fun loving but turns stuffy after marriage. Linda divorces Tony to marry Christian Talbert, a handsome young Communist who takes her off to help refugees in the Spanish Civil War. When Christian finds in Lavender Davies a woman who shares his radical sympathies more sincerely than does Linda, she is off to London. But when Linda misses her train in Paris and doesn't have any money to purchase another fare, she meets Fabrice, a wealthy, handsome nobleman, and becomes his mistress, set up in a beautiful apartment with plenty of money to buy frocks at the best Paris shops.
And then there are those times when one behaves perversely, stubbornly, spitefully. And Polly Hampton, the third protagonist, will provide us a source to identify in those moments. Polly is stubbornly defiant of her mother's attempts to marry her off, until Boy Dougdale becomes available--after the death of his wife, Polly's aunt. Polly marries Boy to spite her mother, since Boy is rumored to be her mother's lover.
But when Boy eventually becomes involved with Cedric Hampton, a flamboyant gay from Nova Scotia (don't ask), Polly is able to go off with a more acceptable man (fleeing in a flashy, low-slung sport car) who will provide her a better future.
In addition to gay Cedric and bisexual Boy, there is the eccentric Lord Merlin, who may well be gay--or just asexual. This eccentric old guy observes the doings of the women, makes apt observations, and gives good advice, all of which is ignored, of course.
Lest you think this pursuit of love is all serious business, I will tell you that there is plenty of laughing-out-loud humor here as well--exactly the sort that would have pleased the Ross Hunter who made the Doris Day-Rock Hudson comedies.
The three leading ladies are perfectly cast but so are the supporting players, who often (unintentionally) upstage the protagonists. And the boyfriends are all handsome fellows. Yummy.
There is only one thing to do: Make a pot of tea, place some fine cookies on a nice plate or open that box of chocolates, and sink into a soft sofa. Then watch "Love In A Cold Climate" and enjoy two and a half hours of fine entertainment--one of the best women's pictures ever.
Each of the three women who are the focus of the film has traits that viewers can identify with as they follow the girls' pursuit of love.
Fanny Logan is the quiet, sensible, conservative woman who marries a college professor and lives a routine but satisfying life. Haven't we all had moments of longing for that sort of secure life?
Linda Radlett, Fanny's cousin, has the romantic life we've all fantasized about. First, she marries Tony Kroesig, wealthy son of a banker, who appears fun loving but turns stuffy after marriage. Linda divorces Tony to marry Christian Talbert, a handsome young Communist who takes her off to help refugees in the Spanish Civil War. When Christian finds in Lavender Davies a woman who shares his radical sympathies more sincerely than does Linda, she is off to London. But when Linda misses her train in Paris and doesn't have any money to purchase another fare, she meets Fabrice, a wealthy, handsome nobleman, and becomes his mistress, set up in a beautiful apartment with plenty of money to buy frocks at the best Paris shops.
And then there are those times when one behaves perversely, stubbornly, spitefully. And Polly Hampton, the third protagonist, will provide us a source to identify in those moments. Polly is stubbornly defiant of her mother's attempts to marry her off, until Boy Dougdale becomes available--after the death of his wife, Polly's aunt. Polly marries Boy to spite her mother, since Boy is rumored to be her mother's lover.
But when Boy eventually becomes involved with Cedric Hampton, a flamboyant gay from Nova Scotia (don't ask), Polly is able to go off with a more acceptable man (fleeing in a flashy, low-slung sport car) who will provide her a better future.
In addition to gay Cedric and bisexual Boy, there is the eccentric Lord Merlin, who may well be gay--or just asexual. This eccentric old guy observes the doings of the women, makes apt observations, and gives good advice, all of which is ignored, of course.
Lest you think this pursuit of love is all serious business, I will tell you that there is plenty of laughing-out-loud humor here as well--exactly the sort that would have pleased the Ross Hunter who made the Doris Day-Rock Hudson comedies.
The three leading ladies are perfectly cast but so are the supporting players, who often (unintentionally) upstage the protagonists. And the boyfriends are all handsome fellows. Yummy.
There is only one thing to do: Make a pot of tea, place some fine cookies on a nice plate or open that box of chocolates, and sink into a soft sofa. Then watch "Love In A Cold Climate" and enjoy two and a half hours of fine entertainment--one of the best women's pictures ever.