Her Cardboard Lover, 1942, is not a terrible movie, nor is it a very good one. A talented cast including Robert Taylor, Norma Shearer, George Sanders, Frank McHugh and Chill Wills struggle mightily with a silly script by Ben Hecht. The plot, about Miami high society, seemed hopelessly irrelevant in 1942. Mr. Taylor gives it his it all, though, and looked very handsome. To see him in a better comedy, try When Ladies Meet, 1941 or Many Rivers To Cross, 1955. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures.
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I became a Robert Taylor fan at the age of 15 when his TV show, "The Detectives" premiered. My mother wanted to watch it because she remembered Mr. Taylor from the thirties. I took one look and that was it. I spent the rest of my high school career watching Robert Taylor movies on late night TV, buying photos of him, making scrapbooks and being a typical teenager. College, marriage and career intervened. I remember being sad when Mr. Taylor died. I mailed two huge scrapbooks to Ursula Thiess. I hope she got them. Time passed, retirement, moving to Florida. Then in 2012 my husband Fred pointed that there were two Robert Taylor movies that evening on Turner Classic Movies--"Ivanhoe" and "Quentin Durward." I watched both and it happened all over again. I started this blog both for fans and for people who didn't know about Robert Taylor. As the blog passes 200,000 views I'm delighted that so many people have come by and hope it will help preserve the legacy of this fine actor and equally good man.
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Hi Judith! Definitely this has been one of my RT favs from the very moment I saw it for the first time, about 15 years ago. In my opinion it’s a gorgeous comedy, very nicely played by everyone involved, and always found it hard to understand why it bombed at the box office. I think, however, it was made at the wrong time, when most people in the US were concerned about the war and perhaps wanted to see more substantial movies than just light entertainment. I don’t agree either with those claiming that Norma Shearer waved a lukewarm goodbye to her career with this film. Quite the opposite to me—she’s perfect in her role and awfully funny… (“Eva… Eva!!!”).
And, as if all this wasn’t enough… we have the chance to see RT singing and playing “I Dare You” on the piano—I’m quite sure it IS him actually playing. What else could we ask for? Seventy years after, “Her Cardboard Lover” still is worth watching and enjoying.
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Hi, Su, I’m sure it was RT playing and singing. He had a nice voice. I like the movie. I just don’t think the script is strong enough. And, you’re right, it didn’t fit with a world at war. Judith
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And why RT wasn’t given the chance to do much more comedy—which he looked most comfortable with—is not only beyond me, but also a real shame.
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My favorite RT comedy is “Many Rives To Cross.” He and Eleanor Parker were great together. I also love the “drunk” scene in “When Ladies Meet.” J
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