... breakfast is at home

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Movie
German title ... breakfast is at home
Original title If a Man Answers
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1962
length 102 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Henry Levin
script Richard Morris
production Ross Hunter
music Hans J. Salter
camera Russell Metty
cut Milton Carruth
occupation

... having breakfast at home is an American romance comedy from 1962 . The literary film adaptation is based on the novel Breakfast is at home. How to Raise a Husband by Winifred Wolfe .

action

Chantal Stacy is the daughter of Germaine from France and John from Boston . She herself is divided on love and meets with several men. Her father, on the other hand, wants her to finally settle down and marry a man. So it happens that she accepts all the marriage proposals of her friends Howard, Tom and Richard. The situation is resolved quickly and with John having a job offer in New York , the family is soon moving from Boston.

In New York Chantal is approached by the photographer Eugene Wright while she is about to buy a hat. He really wants her to be his model. After a brief misunderstanding, she follows him to his apartment, where the two of them discuss the meaning of marriage and the advantages of being a bachelor. Eugene doesn't think much of marriage; women invented it for their own entertainment. Chantal, on the other hand, wonders how a man can even live without a woman. But Eugene tells her that he can always go to restaurants and have fun with beautiful models, like with her. Her mother, who repeatedly advises Chantal on love affairs, later advises her to accept the challenge of marriage, to keep a man interesting for herself for a lifetime. So the next time she visits Eugene, she tries to cook for him and goes out to dance with him. After all, he should marry her and accept the challenge of keeping a woman interesting for himself for a lifetime. At first he refuses, but appears again at night and becomes engaged to her.

During the wedding, however, Chantal doubts whether she will be happy. Germaine is by her side again and says that she can only be disappointed if she doesn't do enough for their relationship. And so Chantal later accepts Eugene's wish to retire as a model and become a housewife. After all, she should soon become the mother of their children. But with Chantal's old friend and successful actress Tina, a rival soon appears, which Eugene is also very enthusiastic about. While Chantal laboriously takes care of the household, she has to watch Tina model Eugene over and over again. Finally, she begs her mother to give her some clever advice. Germaine recommends that Eugene should no longer be viewed as a husband, but rather as a dog to be trained. Although she is against it, she tries it out and is amazed at how well their relationship suddenly works. When one day Tina visits Chantal alone, she too has to admit that she is jealous of Chantal's marriage. Eugene loves her and thinks she is the perfect woman, which is why Tina now asks that her Chantal reveal her secret. But when she finds out, she can only laugh about it and immediately reveals it to Eugene, who is returning from a business trip from Philadelphia . This leads to a big marital dispute and weeks of radio silence.

In order to end this, Germaine recommends that her daughter take a fake lover. She herself had one with Robert Swan. Basically, she should always have flowers sent and called. As soon as Eugene picks up the phone, the caller has to hang up again and he himself would become suspicious. While Chantal herself is telling the truth that she sent herself the flowers and only called Germaine, he would spin a relationship in his head and become so jealous that he would fight for her. But when the time comes and Chantal is finally ready to assure that she will never meet Robert Swan again, she is not only surprised that Eugene withdraws and assures that she has no right to stand between her and the man she is loves. She is also surprised when suddenly a Robert Swan calls and is invited to dinner by Eugene. When Robert Swan finally talks about his relationship with Germaine and Chantal over dinner, she is astonished. It was only by chance that she discovered that Robert Swan was Adam Wright, Eugene's father. This upsets her so much that she decides to move out. If he really wants to be single, he should live alone. She later receives a telegram from Eugene urging her to come to his apartment. There she finds a whole pack of dogs and an apology from Eugene that she can continue to treat him like a dog as long as she stays with him.

criticism

  • The Protestant film observer drew the following conclusion: “In terms of staging and layout of the script, it is quite average. Possible for adults. "

Awards (selection)

Golden Globe Awards 1963

Laurel Award 1963

  • Nomination for Best Female Comedy Act for Susan Dee

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ ... breakfast is at home. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ↑ Ev. Munich Press Association, Review No. 146/1963