No Time for Love (1943) Reviews

• A fun romp breaking down barriers of the modern woman and the macho image.

  designranger2006-10-01

  I have seen this movie many times and am searching for a copy. It is a favorite. Those who have loved Colbert and McMurry in their other pairings will thoroughly enjoy this romp. These two had an on-screen chemistry second only to Hepburn ad Tracy. If you loved "The Egg and I", you will enjoy "No Time for Love". Ilka Chase fans will enjoy her role as she always played her characters with such ease and reality. Colbert, like Roz Russel, always played the woman in command of her life who eventually gives into her leading man. The viewer must remember that "No Time for Love" was a contract movie cranked out at rapid pace by the studios for profit and in an era of war. These movies were needed to lighten the spirit of America and they still do that today.

• Delightful in every way

  whraglyn-22007-01-16

  Had no experience other than 'My Three Sons' of the acting of Fred MacMurray, and had not seen Claudette Colbert at all, before stumbling on this film on the old, (better!), AMC in the mid-'90s. The story is fresh, the dialogue sparkling, the acting understated, the screenplay well paced, the direction deftly weaving together an improbable tale of rather unlikely characters into a story in which we are almost instantly interested. The contrasts between the elitist, New York intellectuals of Colbert's trendy news magazine, and the blue-collar Sandhogs led by MacMurray are displayed with wit and charm rather than a heavy handed preaching about class differences. The story is more than just the blooming romance between the leads. There are numerous moments of action, suspense, male humor, female humor, and many quite amusing one-liners thrown out by supporting cast, so don't be put off by the 'Romance' categorization. Far from being a cliché 'romance', it reminds me more of a screwball comedy with strong romantic elements. The chemistry between Colbert and MacMurray is fascinating to watch as they develop the characters, through interaction with one another, from plot point to plot point. The supporting cast is superlative. Each character has individual quirks which shine from scene to scene, yet they never upstage the leads. Saw the two leads in 'The Egg And I' after seeing this film. If you enjoyed Colbert and MacMurray in that film, you may enjoy the higher energy at all levels of their chemistry in this forgotten gem! PS- If anyone has any clue about obtaining a copy if this film, in ANY format, please let me know here! SPOILER WARNING!!! READ NO FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO AVOID SPOILER BELOW! SPOILER WARNING!! SPOILER BELOW THIS LINE!! Hilarious and psychologically insightful dream sequence! MacMurray as a sort of Superman; Colbert as a flighty Damsel In Distress, with a rare use of then-advanced special visual effects, add up to a near-genius scene in a very well made film!

• Punches and lines

  Sergeiii1999-07-28

  If not exactly sophisticated, this highly entertaining farce still has both leads at their physical best and will doubtlessly please all lovers of screwball fare. The plot may be a bit on the thin side, but the humour (including some rather crude slapstick violence) is always effective. A particularly hilarious dream sequence with Colbert floating through the air in a veil is quoted in Terry Gilliam's Brazil.

• It stayed with me all these years

  ghlist78762006-07-25

  This is a corny love story, no doubt about it. Colbert was at her prime, and MacMurray was on the way up. She was shapely, witty and ravishing as the Uptown NYC reporter, and he was sweat-laden, resolute and brawny in the mud somewhere below the Hudson. I saw it about thirty five years ago, and somehow it has stuck with me all these years. Now that I live in Massachusetts, where the taxpayer has just poured $16BN into a death hole below Boston, I just wish that old' Fred was still kicking so he could jump down in that glory hole and make it all right. Claudette could put the ink out on all the shady contractors and corrupt politicians. How come life isn't more like the movies?

• I love this movie!

  rozebud-32013-07-18

  Yes, it is dated and sexist and kinda clichéd. You can also say that for most comedies of this era. BUT - this is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. It has it all: snappy dialogue, perfectly delivered by a stellar cast; loads of broad physical humor; moments you won't believe got past the censors: Ryan: it was so late when I finished, that-- Katherine: Finished what? Ryan: Are you kidding? Colbert and MacMurray's supporting cast really shine too. June Havoc as the ditsy Darlene ("Hey, my face was open!"), Richard Haydn as Roger, the composer ("What am I supposed to do here, there isn't even a piano!") and of course, Ilka Chase as Katherine's sister Hoppy, who delivers one of the best comedic lines in movie history: "Doorbells should ring once, then electrocute the ringer." This has been one of my favorite films for years, so I was thrilled when it was finally released on DVD as part of a Claudette Colbert collection. Do yourself a favor and pick it up...there are five other fun films in the collection, but none top "No Time for Love."