You could be forgiven for thinking this is a pre-Mother’s Day strip depicting a strategy for a harried mom who needs a little time to herself. It looks sitcom-plausible, what with its reverse-psychology scenario and seeming verisimilitude along with a little cheeky snark. Cue the laugh track.
But you would be wrong. First: very few mothers want to be alone on Mother’s Day. Second: the movie cited in the strip is just too good.
We’re No Angels was directed by the venerable and prolific Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, Mildred Pierce, Life With Father, Angels With Dirty Faces . . . I could go on, but you get the picture). Its cast was first rate, and its story was brilliant, funny, touching, warm, silly, wry, and sentimental without being treacly. In fact, the theme song was called “Sentimental Moments”, and sung at the piano in a beautiful, silky alto by the glorious Joan Bennett. It’s not a musical, but that scene gave the picture its heart without taking anything away from its glib humor (Bogart had outstanding comedy chops). And the cast is perfection: Basil Rathbone, who plays the heavy, played it straight - no scenery-chewing or moustache-twirling; he was a perfectly imperious miser who deserves his very funny fate.
I won’t tell you the story – I’m not a reviewer (hmmm, let’s see how this Substack thing goes), but you can trust me when I say you will fall in love.
My late mother, Judy, played the Joan Bennett part in a prestigious local theater production and won the award that year for Best Actress. I have the inscribed silver bowl to this day.
I could watch this film again and again any day of the week, but, if you’re not familiar with it, We’re No Angels is one of the best Christmas films ever made. Put it on your list. I’m sure Santa gets lots of requests!
We came here to rob them, and that’s what we’re gonna do – beat their heads in, gouge their eyes out, slash their throats. Soon as we wash the dishes.
Here’s a snippet (strip below):