A harried, overworked advertising executive is being pursued romantically by one of his clients, a successful perfume magnate ... and his former fiancée. The latest client of the agency is a psychiatrist and author of a new book. When the executive goes over to discuss the ad campaign, the psychiatrist turns out to be a woman. But what does he really need? Romance? Or analysis?
Reviews
Let's just cut to the chase here..."Let's Live a Little" is a terrible film with little to recommend it. The writing is particularly bad and it's about the worst film either Hedy Lamarr or Bob Cummings appeared in during their careers.When the film begins, Duke Crawford (Cummings) is an extremely harried advertising man. He works all the time and is so busy, he's begun sounding like he's coming unhinged. And, when his latest client is a psychiatrist, she (Lamarr) is also worried he's losing his mind. He thinks they are dating...she thinks he's her latest patient..and the hilarity ensues...or should have.The humor is very forced and very unfunny. Both actors (particularly Cummings) try very hard to make bad material work...but the film just comes off as stupid and 4th rate...at best.
Two of Hollywood's most beautiful women get to pursue Robert Cummings in Let's Live A Little. Cummings who plays a harried advertising man is involved with one client already and it would dearly like to get out of it. Cosmetics queen Anna Sten is still in love with Cummings, but he made the big mistake getting involved with her as she is rather possessive. Wouldn't you know it he gets involved with another women. Psychiatrist Hedy Lamarr has written one of those Dr. Phil type books and Cummings is assigned to publicize the book and her. Before long he's both in love and in need of Lamarr's professional services.That is one thing I don't get. How could that woman practice that profession with drooling men lying on the coach confessing all their issues. She would be a distraction no doubt.And here's Cummings caught between the two of them. Got to Love That Bob.Robert Shayne is on hand as a surgeon in the same medical group as Lamarr. I guess they had those back in the day as well. His part is similar to one he did the before in Welcome Stranger.Let's Live A Little is kind of cute more than funny. The players have to work hard and get very little in return due to a deficient script.
It's very disappointing to find super-lovely Hedy Lamarr so atrociously miscast in this tired and tiresome farce produced by her garrulously witless co-star, Robert Cummings (in association with Eugene Frenke) and released through J. Arthur Rank's Eagle-Lion Pictures. Director Richard Wallace found himself in an unenviable position. Not only was he forced to march to Cummings' beat, but the actor would not take direction. His gaudily over-acted performance makes the trite script seem even more witless and heavy-handed. Even splendid efforts by Hedy Lamarr and Anna Sten cannot compensate for witless writing and turgid direction. Admittedly, the movie is well produced and boasts a fine line-up of some of our favorite character actors including Byron Foulger, Paul Maxey, Frank Sully, Robert Shayne, Mary Treen, John Dehner, Billy Bevan, Hal K. Dawson, Oliver Blake...
Even after three viewings, I still think this movie is terrible. Its a comedy, but I haven't laughed yet. Robert Cummings is miscast, and I keep wanting to slap this character as I wonder why in the world the casting director chose him (wouldn't Jimmy Stewart be much better?). Hedy as a psychiatrist is intriguing as a concept, but this script falls very short. As a consequence, she looks mostly flat, absurd and misplaced. Unlike a number of her other films, her beauty can't save this movie. Nevermind the fact that Hollywood was slack with boundaries in its portrayal of psychiatrists. I hope future viewers find enjoyable qualities in this movie.
