Let’s Do It Again (1953)

Let’s Do It Again (Dir: Alexander Hall, 1953).

Big screen adaptation of Arthur Richman's 1923 play The Awful Truth.

Stage star Constance Stuart (Jane Wyman) concocts an affair with a friend (Tom Helmore) in an attempt to make her philandering songwriter husband Gary (Ray Milland) jealous. However, her plan works a little too well when it ends in divorce. Desperate to win his wife back he has a rival in uranium millionaire Frank McGraw (Aldo Ray). Despite Frank's attentions and a proposal in marriage Constance still holds a candle for Gary. 

Arthur Richman's play had previously been produced by Columbia Pictures as the screwball comedy The Awful Truth (Leo McCarey, 1937). Yet, despite the additions of some sparkling Technicolor and a handful of songs, this remake is weaker in all departments when compared to its classic forbearer.

While Jane Wyman and Ray Milland were considerable box office stars, neither of them are a match for Irene Dunne or Cary Grant in the earlier version. To be fair, hardly anyone could fill the shoes of those comedy greats but their performances are notably free of the chemistry and charisma exhibited by Grant and Dunne. Aldo Ray impresses in the small, yet significant, role as the lovable lunkhead who woos Ms Wyman. Yet, even here, the casting works against the narrative, as Ray is far more appealing a suitor than the smug Milland. In spite of which, Ray is the best thing about the movie and it is a pity he was not given more screen time.  

Director Alexander Hall's previous work included the excellent Here Comes Mr Jordan (A Hall, 1941). However, the light comedic touch that he brought to that classic is sadly missing here. Hampered by static direction and archly theatrical staging, this movie is positively leaden in comparison to McCarey's frothy original.   

Although marketed as such, Let's Do It Again is less a musical than a movie with a few songs. Ned Washington had provided lyrics for Walt Disney classics Pinocchio (Hamilton Luske & Ben Sharpsteen, 1940) and Dumbo (Ben Sharpsteen, 1941) but, unfortunately, his work here is nowhere near as memorable. Unlike those integrated musicals, the songs here do little to further the plot and actually seem somewhat out of place. 

If you have never seen The Awful Truth, I would recommend watching that instead of this tired re-hash. Let's Do It Again is by no means a terrible movie and is worth watching for fans of the stars, particularly Aldo Ray. As entertainment, this version just about passes muster, but I am in no particular hurry to do it again.