The Grass Is Greener – 1960 | 104 mins | Comedy | Colour

Plot Synopsis

John OsboDreary quip-filled romantic romp adapted by Hugh andMargaret Williams from their own West End stage comedy. Director StanleyDonen’s talky light comedy meanderingly deals with the romantic complicationscaused by an American oil magnate, but the film fail to shake off its stageorigins. Grant manages to handle the quagmire of verbiage with charm but theleaden Mitchum is miscast.

English Earl, Victor Rhyall (Cary Grant) and his wife,Lady Hilary Rhyall (Deborah Kerr), have opened their stately home to the publicin order to meet the costs of its maintenance. Holidaying Texan oil tycoon CharlesDelacro (Robert Mitchum) enters the palatial home and steps off the designatedvisitor’s path and into the family’s private quarters, where he meets LadyRhyall. There is an immediate romantic spark between, and before he returns tothe Savoy; the pair embrace. Lady Rhyall spends the subsequent days daydreamingabout Delacro so uses a hairdressing appointment and visit to close friendHattie (Jean Simmons) as a ruse to visit London. There follow someindiscretions in London when Lady Rhyall and her American lover spend the daytogether.

Back at the manor, Hattie arrives and confirms LordRhyall’s suspicions that his wife has embarked on an affair. Rhyall decides totake the bull by the horns and invites his American love rival to spend theweekend at the manor. After many exchanged sarcastic barbs between the two, thecuckolded aristocrat challenges Delacro to a duel with pistols.