That Uncertain Feeling

Released Apr 20, 1941

1 hr. 24 min.

Comedy

List

63%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Jill Baker (Merle Oberon) has an incurable case of the hiccups, for which she reluctantly agrees to see a psychologist, Dr. Vengard (Alan Mowbray). During her first visit she realizes her hiccups may be related to nerves about her husband, Larry (Melvyn Douglas). Upon her second visit to the psychologist, she runs into a famous pianist (Burgess Meredith), and her doubts about her marriage are intensified when he starts courting her. Larry carries out a plan to renew his wife's affections.

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Steve D

I am uncertain why I should be pulling for these people.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/13/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Screwball comedies were all the rage in the 1930's and early 1940's. Like many others, "That Uncertain Feeling" was based on a play. This one doesn't age so well. Part of the problem is there is little chemistry between its three stars - Meryl Oberon, Melvyn Douglas, and Burgess Meredith. All good actors, but they just can't lift the material up, or make us care about the dilemma they get themselves into.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Enjoyed this Classic Comedy with outstanding veteran actors who must have had fun making this film way back in the 1940's.Jill Baker (Oberon) is married to a successful businessman, Larry Baker (Douglas), but after six years, the bloom is off the rose. She goes to a psychiatrist, where, in the waiting room, she meets an opinionated pianist, Alexander Sebastian (Meredith), who introduces her to the world of art and music. She becomes fascinated with the world of culture and with him. Before you know it, Oberon and Douglas are divorcing, and Oberon and Meredith become engaged.A few great memorable lines, what could be heavy melodrama turned into a very light romantic comedy Lubitsch style, and probably worth your time if you run across it, but nothing to deliberately seek out. it's beautifully shot and the design is fabulous. This is the New York City we'd all love to live in. And Oberon looks ravishing. Her performance is convincingly comic, too, though she is so match for Eve Arden in an all too small role.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's not Ernst Lubitsch best film. I think it's a little bit stagey, but Melvin Douglas and Merle Oberon try to have some chemistry on screen. Both actors are good in their roles, and it's surprisingly nice to see Burgess Meredith (Rocky's manager) trying to expose an early comical vein.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Merle Oberon, Melvyn Douglas and Burgess Meredith deal with 'That Uncertain Feeling' An enjoyable comedy from Ernst Lubitsch film based on a Sardou play... Good Second Level Lubitsch--In 'That Uncertain Feeling' a certain maturity and balance rules the writers. Sure, men AND women's flaws come to the fore, but as (or more)importantly, both sexes' attributes are on show, too, to boot... Hiccups and Keeks!!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The wife of a workaholic man falls in love with an eccentric pianist as a result of her frustration. When her husband realises what is going on behing his back, divorce proceedings begin. Though the story lends itself sometimes too eagerly to the comedic genre and loses some subtlety, Lubitsch carries the film off with great finesse and intelligence. The cast contributes with some great and amusing performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Ernst Lubitsch

Director

Merle Oberon

Mrs. Jill Baker

Melvyn Douglas

Larry Baker

Burgess Meredith

Alexander Sebastian

Alan Mowbray

Dr. Vengard

Olive Blakeney

Margie Stallings

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

Ernst Lubitsch, who produced as well as directed this sharply erotic comedy, seems to have saved up some of his best gags for a candid tale of unfulfilled desire, psychoanalysis, modern art, brazen infidelity and antiquated divorce laws.

Apr 14, 2020

Full Review

George Orwell

Time and Tide

Does not quite come off but contains some clever photography and begins amusingly.

Oct 2, 2023

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Lesser Lubitsch still has "The Lubitsch Touch."

Rated: 2.5/4

May 7, 2021

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Aug 8, 2005

Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Rated: 3/5

Mar 18, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

More silly than amusing.

Rated: C+

May 30, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

Jill Baker (Merle Oberon) has an incurable case of the hiccups, for which she reluctantly agrees to see a psychologist, Dr. Vengard (Alan Mowbray). During her first visit she realizes her hiccups may be related to nerves about her husband, Larry (Melvyn Douglas). Upon her second visit to the psychologist, she runs into a famous pianist (Burgess Meredith), and her doubts about her marriage are intensified when he starts courting her. Larry carries out a plan to renew his wife's affections.

Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Ernst Lubitsch-Film, Sol Lesser Productions
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 20, 1941, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2015

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