alexanderdavies-99382 Errol Flynn showed he was very capable of making light comedies and "Four's a Crowd" is his best one by quite some way. Once again, Michael Curtiz is the director and Olivia De Havilland is Flynn's leading lady. The script is a bit corny in all honesty but at least "Four's a Crowd" isn't depressing or melancholic. It takes a bit of getting used to, seeing Errol Flynn in a contemporary setting. An undemanding film but quite amusing.

wvj-2 Four's A Crowd is one of the films you love to see as a child and then again when you get older. The fast-talking and fast-moving tempo of the movie grabs the viewer and forces movie watchers of all ages to keep their eyes on the screen for fear of missing a laugh or a star's expression. The leads in this film were climbing stars at the time and accepting this script was one way they could show all of Hollywood they had versatility. History tells us that Flynn especially loved playing comedy, something he had little chance to do since he was destined to becoming better known as a swashbuckler. But he manages to pull it off quite well as he seems to enjoy each and every scene playing the comedic antagonist and maneuvering himself and the rest of the cast through a fast-changing plot. Yes, this film challenges movie goers to pay attention to the entire film - from Grandpa's (Walter Connelly) expensive model railroad playground and the offices of a working newspaper to the luxurious rooms (sets) in the supposed house where Grandpa and his granddaughter (DeHavilland) live. Here is a comedy made in the black-and-white era that deserves your attention if you love film comedies of the time. And don't forget to watch closely as the four primary characters thrash out an ending that satisfies the sensibilities of audiences of all ages.

bkoganbing What Louis B. Mayer could do Jack Warner could do better at his studio. Two years before in 1936 MGM came out with one of the best screwball comedies of the decade in Libeled Lady, so essentially using the same formula of four stars with different pairings throughout the film, Warner produced Four's A Crowd and his four stars here are Errol Flynn, Olivia DeHavilland, Rosalind Russell, and Patric Knowles. Jack even got Walter Connolly to play the same kind of millionaire father in his film and the setting is once again a newspaper.It's new publisher is the rich and proper Patric Knowles and he's got Rosalind Russell on his staff as a reporter in what was a harbinger of her role in His Girl Friday. In comes an old friend to Knowles office played by Errol Flynn who has the reputation of being the best publicity agent in the world. Flynn's on a crusade to land Walter Connolly as a client, one of the richest men in the world who shuns publicity. Hey, every millionaire isn't Donald Trump. As it happens Knowles is going out with Connolly's granddaughter Olivia DeHavilland. If you are familiar with Libeled Lady you can take it from there.Just because Four's A Crowd is an imitation doesn't mean it's not a good imitation. The four stars are all in their salad years and give a good account of themselves. Errol Flynn showed a gift for light comedy that was not too often used by Warner Brothers as his public preferred him with sword in hand. Of all the eight films he did with Olivia DeHavilland this is the only one they did modern dress and it's probably unfortunately the least known. And at time when all Jack Warner wanted from DeHavilland was to look pretty and be supportive of the hero, she got her innings here giving such folks as Myrna Loy and Carole Lombard and Claudette Colbert her version of the screwball heiress which saturated films of the Thirties.I also have no doubt that Columbia got Rosalind Russell to play Hildy Johnson in His Girl Friday on the strength of her performance in Four's A Crowd. Doing Craig's Wife at Columbia also on a loan out from MGM, Roz made her bones in dramatic parts, in this one she first reveals her gift for comedy. The following year Louis B. Mayer cast her in the third lead in The Women and Rosalind Russell was a certified movie star.Walter Connolly's millionaire role is virtually identical to the one from Libeled Lady. In that film his hobby is fishing, here it's electric trains and he's got a train set spread that any kid would envy. The single most hilarious scene in Libeled Lady is William Powell trying to fish for the first time. Here it's Errol Flynn feigning an interest in electric trains and having Connolly's dogs set upon him.One really ought to view Libeled Lady and Four's A Crowd back to back and see which you think is the funnier. We'll have different schools of thought emerging.

Merizzlefoshizle I am a little bias to anything in the classic era of film and by classic era I mean anything from 1930 to 1948. But this movie is a real treasure. Not only do you have the irreplaceable team of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland in Four's a Crowd, there is a bonus of Rosalind Russell.Mr. Flynn plays a different role than we usually see him in. He is still ever so charming but this time he has traded his sword for a desk. Miss De Havilland refreshes us with a comedic role. Anyone who says this limits her acting ability is completely wrong. Comedy requires a certain amount of skill and she nails her role. Roz Russell fulfills in her character everything her followers like to see her as, a witty newspaper woman. Of course she is capable of playing other parts well but she plays these woman the best. Walter Connolly plays the high-strung,stubborn patriarch like always. In the End the all get married to each other (there's another guy) but you'll have to watch it to see whom to who.