Design for Living

Be the first to write a review

Overview

Design for Living was based on the stage comedy by Noel Coward, though little of his dialogue actually made it to the screen. Playwright Fredric March and artist Gary Cooper both fall in love with Miriam Hopkins, an American living in Paris. Both men love the girl, and the girl can't make up her mind between the two men, so the threesome decide to move in together--strictly platonically, of course. As the men gain in success and prominence, the chasteness of the "menage a trois" begins to be threatened, and soon ...
See more details below
Blu-ray (Subtitled / B&W / Pan & Scan)
$39.99
BN.com price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Blu-ray)
  • All (11) from $18.50   
  • New (10) from $18.50   
  • Used (1) from $26.64   

More About This Product

Overview

Design for Living was based on the stage comedy by Noel Coward, though little of his dialogue actually made it to the screen. Playwright Fredric March and artist Gary Cooper both fall in love with Miriam Hopkins, an American living in Paris. Both men love the girl, and the girl can't make up her mind between the two men, so the threesome decide to move in together--strictly platonically, of course. As the men gain in success and prominence, the chasteness of the "menage a trois" begins to be threatened, and soon both March and Cooper clash over Hopkins. She reacts by marrying her wealthy but dull boss Edward Everett Horton. Miriam is bored to tears until March and Cooper invade one of her husband's stuffy parties and chase the tiresome guests away. Miriam's husband huffily agrees to a divorce, and the girl returns to her unorthodox relationship with her two former suitors. The subtle homosexual implications of the Noel Coward stage original were dissipated by the presence of the aggressively masculine Gary Cooper and Fredric March in the film version of Design for Living. Replacing these implications were the equally subtle but more "mainstream" boudoir innuendos of director Ernst Lubitsch.
Read More Show Less

Special Features

"The Clerk," starring Charles Laughton, director Ernst Lubitsch's segment of the 1932 omnibus film If I Had a Million; Selected-scene commentary by film scholar William Paul ; British television production of the play Design for Living from 1964, introduced on camera by playwright Noël Coward; New interview with film scholar and screenwriter Joseph McBride on Lubitsch and screenwriter Ben Hecht's adaptation of the Coward play
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
When first released, Design for Living was assailed for the incredible liberties it took in transferring the material from stage to the screen. Indeed, director Ernst Lubitsch and screenwriter Ben Hecht kept only a single line of dialogue from the witty, sparkling Noel Coward comedy -- and that one line was hardly itself distinguished. In other hands, this would have been a recipe for disaster; fortunately, Lubitsch and Hecht were enormous talents themselves, and the film they concocted from the barebones of Coward's play is sharply observed, slightly daffy and a total delight. It's true that Gary Cooper is a little out of place in high-style comedy of this sort; he's a little too "downhome" to pull off some of what is asked of him. Nevertheless, his natural charisma is sufficient to overcome this deficiency, and his innate masculinity is used to interesting effect. On the other hand, Fredric March is right at home, turning in a deliciously comic performance that never takes a false turn. He's matched by Miriam Hopkins, creating some subtly wonderful variations on a madcap theme and proving irresistible in whatever she does. Lubitsch's hand is deft as always, especially in the near-wordless opening and the invasive through-the-windows shot after Tom has left for London. If the play has been coarsened somewhat, the film is still a treat.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 12/6/2011
  • UPC: 715515089913
  • Original Release: 1933

    • Rating:

  • Source: Criterion
  • Region Code: A
  • Presentation: Subtitled / B&W / Pan & Scan
  • Time: 1:31:00
  • Format: Blu-ray
  • Sales rank: 33,679

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Fredric March Tom Chambers
Gary Cooper George Curtis
Miriam Hopkins Gilda Farrell
Edward Everett Horton Max Plunkett
Franklin Pangborn Mr. Douglas
Isabel Jewell Lisping Stenographer
Harry Dunkinson Egelbauer
Wyndham Standing Max Plunkett's Butler
Lionel Belmore Theatre Patron
Thomas Braidon Second Manager
Nora Cecil Tom Chambers' Secretary
Emile Chautard Conductor
Mathilde Comont Heavy Woman
Adrienne D'Ambricourt Cafe Proprietress
Jane Darwell Housekeeper
James Donlan Fat Man
Helena Phillips Evans Mrs. Egelbauer
Charles French Theatre Patron
Mary Gordon Theatre Chambermaid
Grace Hayle Woman on Staircase
Olaf Hytten Englishman at Train
Armand Kaliz Mr. Burton
Rolfe Sedan Bed Salesman
Vernon Steele First Manager
Technical Credits
Ernst Lubitsch Director, Producer
Travis Banton Costumes/Costume Designer
Hans Dreier Art Director
Nathaniel W. Finston Score Composer
Ben Hecht Screenwriter
Frances Marsh Editor
Victor Milner Cinematographer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously