Overview
A summer of unexpected guests leads to romance, intrigue, and a fight for justice.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- sincere
- breezy
- classic movie night
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the lively screenplay, George Stevens's assured direction, and the chemistry of its three leads, while noting occasional awkwardness between its serious legal drama and screwball comedy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The housebound romantic triangle repeatedly shifts between slapstick concealment and earnest arguments about Leopold's prosecution and Lightcap's legal philosophy.
Leopold is scapegoated for the factory fire and fears a trial distorted by Andrew Holmes's public agitation.
Leopold challenges Lightcap's clinical view of law while Nora and Sam Yates try to demonstrate that Leopold cannot receive a fair trial.
Escaped prisoner Leopold poses as the injured gardener Joseph while Nora hides him from authorities and Lightcap.
Films like The Talk of the Town, and why
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
shared screwball romance, legal dilemma, and conflict between idealism and institutional authority
The Philadelphia Story
shared romantic comedy, concealed identity, and witty social debate driven by charismatic leads
His Girl Friday
shared escapist comedy balancing romance with serious questions about justice and civic responsibility
12 Angry Men
shared socially conscious courtroom drama, moral argument, and tension between law and justice
Movie Details
- Director
- George Stevens
- Release Date
- 1942-08-20
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (133)
Cast
- Cary Grant
- Jean Arthur
- Ronald Colman
- Edgar Buchanan
- Glenda Farrell
- Charles Dingle
- Emma Dunn
- Rex Ingram
- Leonid Kinskey
- Tom Tyler
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Talk of the Town about?
- An escaped radical, an idealistic housekeeper, and a detached law professor turn a New England summer rental into a battleground over romance, law, and justice.
- What is The Talk of the Town like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Talk of the Town as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Talk of the Town violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Talk of the Town as mild.
- What did critics think of The Talk of the Town?
- Critics broadly praised the lively screenplay, George Stevens's assured direction, and the chemistry of its three leads, while noting occasional awkwardness between its serious legal drama and screwball comedy.
- Which films are like The Talk of the Town?
- Films with a similar feel include Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, His Girl Friday, and 12 Angry Men.
- How long is The Talk of the Town?
- The Talk of the Town runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Talk of the Town?
- In United States, The Talk of the Town streams on fuboTV.
