“The Talk of the Town” is a black & white, 1942 film that is rather surprising. It opens with a murder suspect, Cary Grant, escaping from prison. Initially I thought I wouldn’t like it. But of course, he’s not guilty. Nonetheless, he hides out in the home of his childhood sweetheart, Jean Arthur. She has rented her home to law professor, Michael Lightcap, played by Ronald Coleman, who has no idea the fugitive is hidden there.
The dialogue is intriguing, the acting superb, and whenever we make borscht we reference this film — “borscht with an egg in it.” Of course we don’t make it that way, sounds disgusting.
Cary Grant is Leopold Dilg (how do you like that for a name?) In one scene, Jean Arthur speaks kindly to him, “oh Leopold” and Cary Grant replies,
Stop saying “Leopold” like that — tenderly. It sounds funny. You can’t do it with a name like Leopold.
The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Original Story, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing and Best Score.
Even my teen-aged son loves this comedy.
