A Movie Review: The Talk of the Town

The Talk of the Town. Leopold Dilg (Cary Grant) is accused of arson at the factory where he used to work. He escapes from prison and arrives at his friend's house, Nora Shelley (Jean Arthur). Nora is preparing the house for rent. Instead of turning Leopold over to the police, she hides him in the attic, knowing that he is innocent of the crime. Soon after Leopold arrives so does the renter, a famed law professor named Professor Michael Lightcap (Ronald Colman).

What follows is the three living under the same roof. Leopold introduces himself as the gardener. Leopold Dilg's lawyer actually went to school with Professor Lightcap. So a game starts to begin where Leopold and his lawyer attempt to get Professor Lightcap to take an interest in the case. At the same time, Professor Lightcap is informed that he will be nominated to the Supreme Court and obviously doesn't want any involvement in a case that might cause difficulties for him during the nomination process.

This movie has a lighthearted comedic feel to it with just a touch of political philosophy and small town corruption. Though Cary Grant holds top billing, it really feels like this is a Jean Arthur/Ronald Colman movie. A love triangle forms between Nora, Leopold and Professor Lightcap. Perhaps it is my own biases, but I could help but hope that Nora would pick the stuffy Professor Lightcap. I just felt the chemistry between the two was more dynamic.