Julia Misbehaves (1948) User Reviews (25)

Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson try their hand at screwball comedy...

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 21 August 2010]

and do a very good job at it. If you've always wanted to see Greer Garson scantily clad and singing while being tossed about by acrobats and cheered on by sailors on leave, or if Walter Pidgeon being roughed up by a trained vaudevillian seal appeals to you, this is your movie. Garson and Pidgeon, a very popular MGM screen team of the 40's, this time are a long-estranged married couple. Pidgeon plays a real scoundrel in this one, but fortunately the scoundrel part is something we're largely told about, not something that we see much of. Pidgeon's character, William Sylvester Packett, is to the manor born and meets chorus girl Julia (Greer Garson) while in the service during World War I. They are hastily married, and a daughter Susan (Elizabeth Taylor) is born during the following year. War is often the great equalizer - it makes everyone involved forget their peacetime stations in life. Thus, when the war ends, it only takes a few months in familiar settings for William to decide he doesn't love Julia anymore and send her packing. However, William never divorces Julia, a symptom of his split feelings towards her. He does keep the baby for himself, though. Once you get familiar with the characters you feel that maybe William's mom had a hand in the break-up since she obviously thinks Julia is not good enough for her son.

The two are thrown back into each other's lives when Julia receives an invitation to her daughter's wedding. The problem is, nobody seems to know who sent that mysterious invitation. Before anyone can get in touch with her to "disinvite" her, free spirit Julia appears at the Packett estate a few days before the wedding. With estranged hubby and his mother so cool to her presence, the servants so happy to see her after all of these years, and her daughter a perfect stranger, how will this whole thing work out? I know this sounds like it has all the potential for Madame X style melodrama, but believe me it is good fun all the way. I highly recommend it. As an aside, don't be too confused by the fact that the time factor doesn't make much sense. This movie was made in 1948 but set in 1938 so the whole issue of World War II doesn't enter into the plot at all.

Greer lets her hair down

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 19 January 2006]

Greer Garson is again teamed up with Walter Pidgeon in the delightful comedy, "Julia Misbehaves," which also stars 16-year-old Elizabeth Taylor and a very adorable Peter Lawford. Taylor and Lawford are a subplot in this film, which mainly concerns Garson as Julia, an entertainer, showing up to attend the wedding of the daughter she hasn't seen since infancy. Because of the breakup of her marriage and her transient lifestyle, she left the child with her husband's family.

This is a fun movie with some great scenes, the best of which is an acrobatic act featuring Julia. It is hilarious. Cesar Romero makes a game attempt at a Cockney accent, and is very good as Nicky, the head of the act who is interested in marrying Julia. Nigel Bruce is a man conned out of 6950 francs by Julia, and Lucile Watson is Julia's disapproving mother-in-law. Pidgeon plays Julia's husband, who hasn't seen her in years, but on encountering her again, realizes what he's been missing.

Wedding plans don't go as expected once Julia is in the house. A very pretty Elizabeth Taylor gets her first screen kiss from Lawford, and they make a charming couple. But this isn't their film, it's Garson's, in a different type of role for her. She is up to the task. Over the years, perhaps due to some of the sentimental movies she made and being raked over the coals by Pauline Kael, Garson's reputation has suffered. However, she is terrific in "Julia Misbehaves," and this entertaining film is well worth seeing.

In "Julia Misbehaves," Liz receives her first serious screen kiss from Peter Lawford

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 7/10 · 5 June 2005]

Her love scenes, in fact, convinced MGM that their mature sixteen-year-old was prepared to take on adult roles…

But Taylor's romancing is secondary, the film being designed as a showcase for Greer Garson to prove that Metro's gracious tea-serving lady had some fun in her… As the misbehaving Julia, a circus trouper and woman about town, Garson returns to the society husband she left years ago, because her young daughter is to be married and has sent for her…

Taylor plays the naïve, unsophisticated girl, saved at the end from marrying the wrong man… She merely had to look pretty, and it's the first time that she seems like a clever and suave made-up movie starlet and nothing else

Charming comedy filled with romance and touching moments.

[maxwelllimited · 13 January 2001]

"Julia Misbehaves" is a charming comedy filled with romance and touching moments. Greer Garson sparkles as Julia, a penniless showgirl who has been invited to attend the very formal wedding of her daughter, Elizabeth Taylor, whom she hasn't seen since she was a baby. Along the way, she encounters acrobat Cesar Romero and his wacky family, rich aristocrat Nigel Bruce with an eye for pretty girls, and estranged husband Walter Pidgeon who begins to wonder how he ever let her go in the first place. All of the interactions lead into one humorous complication after another and show off Ms. Garson's comedic timing that was rarely seen in her usual dramatic roles.

Agreeable 40s Romcom

[loloandpete · 7/10 · 25 April 2022]

This is a slight story and it's obvious where it's going but the fun of it is the journey getting there as we follow the exploits and misadventures of the titular Julia, wittily and intelligently played by Greer Garson. She has good chemistry with Walter Pidgeon's masculine everyman type and the young pairing of Peter Lawford and Elizabeth Taylor are appealing enough, but what really makes this film is an embarrassment of riches in the ranks of the character actors present here. Lucile Watson and Mary Boland are shown to good effect as very different types of matriarch, Henry Stephenson and Aubrey Mather are fun as a twinkly Lord and a endearing vicar respectively and Reginald Owen, Edmund Breon and Fritz Field all have nice moments as a put upon pawnbroker, a cheery Scots ghillie and a money grabbing informant. But leading the field in this illustrious company are an amusing Cesar Romeo as a muscle bound, love-lorn acrobat and Nigel Bruce as a lecherous but still loveable old roue. Arguably the highlight of the film are the music hall scenes that include the acrobatic troupe, a cheeky contortionist and even a performing seal. Great fun.

Didn't quite work for me

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 25 January 2023]

Greer Garson is one of my all-time favorite actresses. In particular, her performance in "Random Harvest". And she always seemed perfectly cast with Walter Pidgeon. Somehow I had never seen this film, and now that I have...well, I am nonplussed. Oh, it's not a bad film; it's not just how I like to see Greer Garson.

This is pretty close to being a screwball comedy. There's even some slapstick here. Those who were surprised to see her singing and dancing on stage...check out her 'vaudeville' performance in "Random Harvest". I can't criticize her performance here. Nor does her comedy ability surprise me since in the 1960s she once ended up on "The Red Skelton Hour" (another MGM alumni).

Pidgeon is -- for me -- more reliable here. Although he takes a nice turn as humorous (rather than comedic; there is a subtle difference). Peter Lawford is very pleasant (and handsome here).

Elizabeth Taylor is wonderful as the daughter. Cesar Romero's role is...odd...as a romantic acrobat. I always enjoy Lucile Watson, and she was great here, as was Nigel Bruce as a flirty oldster. Interesting to see Reginald Owen as Julia's friend...also a supporting actor in "Random Harvest". And, Henry Stephenson is always welcome as a supporting character actor.

There was one thing that did bother me about the plot. Why Julia and Pidgeon decide independently that their daughter is marrying the wrong man.

Bottom line, Garson may be one of my very favorite actresses, and I have several of her films on my DVD shelf, and this was sort of entertaining...but I won't be watching it again.

more misbehaving

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 August 2023]

It's 1936 London. Julia Packett (Greer Garson) is an aging stage actress whose modus operandi is to get men to pay her bills. She receives a wedding invitation from her estranged daughter Susan Packett (Elizabeth Taylor). William Sylvester Packett (Walter Pidgeon) is her wealthy ex-husband. Even her friends don't know her past. Susan is obsessed with painter Ritchie Lorgan (Peter Lawford) despite being engaged to someone else.

Greer Garson is having a bit of fun although the character should probably be a much bigger diva. I like the bathtub introduction and the acrobat scene is fun. I want a more outrageous performance and more misbehaving. There is a 16 year old Elizabeth Taylor doing co-staring work. The movie takes a family misadventure turn when Julia joins her ex-family. The adult comedy turns into a family slapstick comedy. I do prefer the adult comedy in the first half.

Kick Off Your Shoes with Greer!

[JLRMovieReviews · 9/10 · 17 March 2011]

Greer Garson, soaking in her tub and locked in her room, pretends she's about to end it all. All this is a ruse in order to get her good friend Reginald Owen to pay her creditors, who are at her door. Ms. Garson's carefree, gay, and a delicious tease in this fun-filled romp that is sure to please even the crankiest of viewers. This shows Ms. Garson in a new light from her usual fare of melodrama, as she lets her hair down and has all the men around her on a string and using them to her advantage. It happens that she gets an invitation to her daughter's impending wedding. She had left her years ago, with her husband, of whom she never divorced (played by Walter Pidgeon,) because she is an stage actress and travels a lot. When she arrives, we see that most of them are not glad to see her, after all this time. But what happens next is a riot. Cesar Romero is great as part of an acrobatic act and as a suitor vying for Greer, giving the debonair Walter Pidgeon a run for his money. "What muscles am I using now?" If you've never seen this, you're in for a real treat, the cheery side of Miss Greer.

not bad, not good

[daryl42 · 6/10 · 21 February 2000]

Greer long wanted to do a comedy and finally got her chance. This one misfires frequently, the jokes just don't quite hit and the ending is really lacking.

But there are reasons to see this one. Greer doing the acrobat number is worth the price of admission; getting over on Nigel Bruce is lots of fun; some witty scenes with Ceasar Romero are probably the best in the film.

Not her best, not her worst. But she looks beautiful in this one.

Watching Julia misbehave is a real treat:)

[abcj-2 · 8/10 · 17 March 2013]

I adore this nutty little film. I love Garson, Pidgeon, Taylor, and Lawford in almost any movie and particularly teamed together. Cesar Romero also adds flavor in a comedic supporting role. I enjoy classic and screwball comedies and have a long list made of those (this one is on it). Is this the best of the best? No, but it's fun and well made. That's a prerequisite for my list. I own it and still watch it each time it comes on TCM.

Elizabeth Taylor, as the mutual daughter and young bride, is so young and lovely. She still has an innocence to her performance at this stage that I enjoy. Peter Lawford is young, suave, and cocky. Walter Pidgeon is typical Walter Pidgeon. But it's Greer Garson's movie and in it she shines. She produces screwball romantic comedy antics worthy of Irene Dunne or Jean Arthur.

This is a must see for Garson fans. I highly recommend it to fans of any of the cast or of the genre. It's not perfect, but it sure entertains. And isn't that the point?

The Packetts Unite For A Wedding

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 7 September 2011]

For their first film after World War II Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon were teamed for the fifth time in Julia Misbehaves. It is the story of an estranged married couple who meet for the first time in years for their daughter's wedding. From that meeting a whole lot changes in everyone's lives.

Garson and Pidgeon did such classics as Blossoms In The Dust, Mrs. Miniver, Madame Curie and Mrs. Parkington. Julia Misbehaves while funny is just not in their league.

It seems that Pidgeon in a moment of weakness married showgirl Greer Garson and they never quite divorced, but his harridan of a mother Lucille Watson did her best to split them up and she succeeded admirably. Watson wanted to present her granddaughter who grows up to be Elizabeth Taylor in proper society and she feels Greer's background is not fit.

But now that she's getting married Taylor wants her mother at her wedding and when Garson comes she and Taylor hit it off. And Pidgeon is also rekindling some long burned out flames.

However one problem Greer has is that she's kindled a flame or two in acrobat Cesar Romero. The best scenes in Julia Misbehaves involve Greer doing some singing very much like she did in Random Harvest and also a hilarious sequence with Romero's acrobatic family.

Cesar Romero was a good and distinguished looking man, but he never sported a set of muscles as he's shown here. You never see him closeup during the acrobatic scenes and when he's dressed the padding in his shoulders is terribly obvious. Mary Boland plays his mother and she's her usual confused self.

According to the Citadel series film book The Films Of Elizabeth Taylor, MGM was very concerned about Greer Garson after having come off two films that were not anything close to her work in the films I cited above. Adventure with Clark Gable did not ignite demand for a new screen team and Desire Me was one of the worst films MGM did during the Forties, maybe the worst in Garson's career. So they put her back with Walter Pidgeon and also deliberately cast an up and coming Elizabeth Taylor as the daughter to help boost box office.

Peter Lawford appears opposite Taylor, but he's not the guy she's going to marry at that wedding she invites Garson to. Nevertheless he's a lot better than the society drip Watson has picked out for her.

Julia Misbehaves is a pleasant enough film, but hardly up to the standards set by Garson and Pidgeon. Nor is it a great film for Elizabeth Taylor. But for fans of all three, they should be satisfied.

Major Comedy With Two Great Stars; Delightful and Wise

[silverscreen888 · 8/10 · 15 July 2005]

A a writer, i enjoy the spaciousness of this story. This is a sense-of-life portrait of an indomitable woman with a keen sense of Ionic humor, the ability to defend herself when verbally attacked and a very bright and honest mind. In her youth she had married a rich man's son and thought him strong enough to stand up to parental disapproval for the sake of his young actress wife. They had a child, a girl, then later he said he did not love her and called off the marriage. She has gotten by somehow for years; he raised the child. Only now the daughter, about to be married, wants her mother beside her at the wedding. Julia, a female in the United States where few people have any rights and females less, is cadging money off old philanderers who should know better for services not rendered; the latest is a friend of her husband's. She arrives at the house and charms everyone...from the first, the husband wonders why he had ever let her go. She finds her daughter's fiancée hopeless and makes sure she gets interested in a young painter instead. Somehow she gets involved on the way there with the Flying Ghenoccios, in whose balancing act she makes an hilarious debut atop a human pyramid, winning the eldest brother's heart. He shows up then too, complicating life for the husband. They end up nearly drowned and arguing vociferously before she finally accepts her husband's second proposal and his explanation that he had allowed his snobbish family to talk him out of love when he as young. All turns out well for all concerned; but not until after many enjoyable and sometimes farcical complications, and touching moments, occur including Julai's explanation of why "cylamen pink" would be a disaster as a color for bridesmaids' gowns. This film has luminous style in B/W and an expensive look about it, the MGM touch. The roster of those who contributed to this handsome and large-appearing production is a long and much-honored one: gowns by Irene, script adapted from Margery Sharp's "The Nutmeg Tree", direction by Jack Conway, music by Adolph Deutsch, set decorations by Edwin B. Willis, art direction by Daniel B. Cathcart and Cedric Gibbons, with cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg, script by Arthur Wimperis, Harry Riskin and William Ludwig, with adaptation by Monckton Hoffe and Gina Kaus. In the large cast Greer Garson and Walter Pigeon are the mature couple, and they are unarguably wonderful together, as always. Lucile Watson as his mother, Peter Lawford as the painter, Mary Boland as the mother of the Ghenoccios and Cesar Romero as her eldest Joe are all very good. Nigel Bruce, Elizabeth Taylor as the daughter, Reginald Owen, Ian Wolfe, Henry Stephenson, Veda Ann Borg and Phyliis Moore have less to do but all do what they are asked to do very well. This is a long, pleasant and occasionally brilliant satire of its own plot line--taking responsibility for one's own values. The rich and the deluded in this trenchant look at human errors and choices do not come off particularly well; virtues, though not exclusively, seem mostly to belong to those who deal with reality and not social-class expectations and conventions and appearances---in a nation that was not supposed to have any such folderol. Julia in the person of Greer Garson is a stiff breeze of fresh air; and in the brilliant and only modestly-stuffy person of Walter Pigeon we see a human edifice in exact need of that cleansing stir, motion and source of verbiage. She is obviously exactly the woman he should have married after all and should never have let go for any reason. Forget this is Greer Garson; the film would have been accepted by public and critics in 1938 as the beautifully-made gem it is; if it was made too late, it was not too late for its genial look at human honesties and foibles, but for a nation's folk no longer much interested in realities, as it s citizens had been during the late war. A true delight and a rare and major comedy appearance for the witty and delightful stars.

Greer misbehaves

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 10 February 2020]

Have always had a thing for good casts and 'Julia Misbehaves' certainly had that. Watching Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon together was more often than not a pleasure, they worked so well together, and both gave fine performances also when not paired together or in the same film. It was interesting to see both in relative change of pace roles, giving a chance to see them (particularly Garson) in roles showing their lighter and less serious sides.

While both gave better performances, personally prefer both in dramatic roles (but that may be down too that there were more of them), and they both did better films, that doesn't stop 'Julia Misbehaves' from being very entertaining and intriguing on the most part. Perhaps not a must watch, but anybody intrigued in seeing Garson and Pidgeon break away from their relative type-casting and in seeing a very young Elizabeth Taylor should see it.

'Julia Misbehaves' may have a predictable story that does go overboard on the silliness at times, and although a lot happens the film would have benefitted from a less is more approach to the storytelling. Not all the humour lands, of which there is a lot of, some of it being a bit too corny and trying-too-hard like.

And maybe there could have been a little less of the sentiment, the ending being one of the worst cases of being both silly and perhaps mawkish.

Count me in though however as another person that thought that Garson, looking absolutely radiant, was not out of her element and didn't flounder. It was great to see her letting her hair down and show that she did have a light-hearted side to her and actually looking as though she was enjoying herself. Pidgeon doesn't play his role too seriously or too heavily and like Garson he looked like he was having fun, he did do other comedic roles and some of them fared much better than others but this is one of the ones where he didn't look out of his depth. Their chemistry is a good representation of how well they worked together. The rest of the cast are on good form, Taylor is heart-stoppingly beautiful and Peter Lawford is charming. Their romance is very sweet. Icy Lucile Watson and suave Cesar Romero (the latter having some of the film's better moments) are cast standouts.

Director Jack Conway, in his final film, did do better work (as well as worse), knowing him best from his collaborations with Clark Gable, but he keeps things together well and doesn't seem uncomfortable or disengaged with the material. The material is not perfect by any stretch, but generally the comedy, with some nice witty yet light-hearted dialogue, is amusing and at its best riotous and the more romantic moments are genuinely charming even if sentiment gets a bit much in places. 'Julia Misbehaves' never felt dull, doesn't waste its setting (actually making the most of it and using it to full potential) and is nicely designed and shot.

Overall, imperfect but fun change of pace. 7/10

Life without Mother.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 24 November 2015]

The light-hearted comedy intertwined with war drama in Mrs. Miniver gave the idea that the team of Greer Garson could handle screwy situations but after a few dramatic pot-boilers kept their work totally serious. MGM's comedies were a familiar bag of repeats but with teams like Loy and Powell and Hepburn and Tracy, they figured why mess with a successful formula?

The situation here is a totally familiar one with larger elements of farce. Garson is estranged from her not so stuffy Pidgeon, working in a music hall show. She gets a letter inviting her to her daughter's wedding and ends up stirring up the pot in delirious confusion. Elizabeth Taylor, on the thresh of stardom, is the bride, and she seems more interested in reconciling her parents than her own fiancé. Along comes dashing Peter Lawford to stir up more confusion, and eventually the forgotten feelings of her parents emerge.

Encounters with tamed seals and bears, a truly hideous music hall number and Garson's flight into a torrential downpour add on to interference by Lucile Watson as Pigeon's imperious mother and Cesar Romero and Nigel Bruce as admirers of Garson's do as well. Pretty silly going, there is never any doubt how this will play out. If it wasn't for the professional cast and tight direction by Jack Conway, this certainly would be more of a misfire.

Garson and Pigeon in fun-filled comedy.

[guil12 · 9 February 2002]

Both Greer Garson and Walter Pigeon, having made several dramas together, have done a remarkable switch to comedy. Both are charming and classy in their romp of delight. Along the way with the help of the likes of Caesar Romero, as the head of a family of acrobats, the zany Mary Boland, his alcoholic mother [loved her hanging from the smoke stack of a liner], Nigel Bruce, a woman chaser, attempting to pick up Greer in a lady's clothing shop, Elizabeth Taylor, all of 16 years old and gorgeous, Peter Lawford, also young and gorgeous and Lucille Watson, the wealthy grand dame of the family, Greer and Walter go through the antics of falling into mud puddles, sinking into the water in a beaten up old row boat, being forced to go through a high flying acrobatic act, being slapped on the rear by a trained seal and generally having a grand time of it. Hats off to a slick and silly script and a cast of performers who don't take it seriously at all.

Seeing the Seal scene with Walter Pigeon was worth the whole film

[Michael1958 · 6/10 · 16 March 2003]

I will not give away the plot, but will give my own run down on the characters. Walter Pigeon-he is good, but stuffy in his role-his best part is with the Seal. Greer Garson-L.B. Mayer must have wanted to punish her with this wacky role. Elizabeth Taylor-her first grown up role, I cannot believe MGM wanted her in grown up roles so soon. She is pretty, but seriously folks-she looks more like she is about to attend a sock hop. Peter Lawford-has an odd role, but not too bad. I think he was overall film wise the best human part. Nigel Bruce-as a dirty old man friend of Walter's. Reginald Owen-he was in it for just a bit and this was sad-he was a good actor and added much to films. Cesar Romero-talk about a challenging role, he plays a cockney speaking Englishman! Corny, but not bad. The Seal-this animal and his antics with the stuffy Walter Pigeon are priceless-the very best thing about the movie. Forget Elizabeth Taylor-the Seal acts and looks better in this film than she does. Sorry Liz.

Garson and Pidgeon sparkle in high comedy change of pace

[Emaisie39 · 8/10 · 30 August 2007]

Greer Garson had a charmed film career. She was discovered on the English stage by Louis B. Mayer when she was 33. Her MGM career stalled until she was cast opposite Robert Donat in the classic "Goodbye Mr. Chips"(1939) which made her an immediate major star and a worthy successor to fading MGM superstars Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Garbo. Her lovely, charismatic performance in this film brought her the first of seven Best Actress Oscar nominations. Truth be told her role was too small for such a nomination and Shearer's and Crawford's superb work in "The Women"(1939) should have gotten the nominations. Garson's next film was the disastrous "Remember"(1939) a glossy flat so-called comedy that had her much too prim and proper. But after Shearer unwisely passed on "Pride and Prejudice"(1940) Garson was cast in the central role and received raves from everyone. In retrospect she seems too old for this and the more youthful-looking classy Shearer would have been much better but this film made Garson an enormous star which she remained until a string of entertaining disasters in the early 50's. Of course Garson would win her Oscar for the excellent blockbuster "Mrs.Miniver (1942) -another dumb Shearer turn-down- and Garson would now be typecast in generally too noble and ladylike roles. Nonetheless Garson gave a sparkling performance opposite Crawford in the forgotten "When Ladies Meet"(1941) and gave marvelous natural performances in the hugely popular yet maligned "Adventure"(1946) and superb in the disastrous "Desire Me"(1947). The comedy "Julia Misbehaves" came right after and proved a tremendous hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Though superficially "the lady" once again this role allows Greer to be the comedienne and she succeeds splendidly. The sparkling script and direction, the MGM gloss, her great chemistry with Pidgeon, and the beautiful young co-stars Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Lawford add to the non-stop fun. She plays a wayward showgirl who wants to be part of her daughter's wedding even though she has not been around for years. It's the kind of light hearted romp that Hollywood tries to do now in days with Sandra Bullock, Meg Ryan, Reese Witherspoon and surprisingly Diane Keaton. Of course these recent films rarely work as well as the delightful "Julia Misbehaves." After this Garson returned to the lady roles and had her last big hit with the stodgy technicolored "That Forsythe Woman"(1949). Most of the films that followed were failures except for her outstanding work in "Julius Caesar"(MGM,1953) and Oscar-nominated as Eleanor Roosevelt in "Sunrise at Campobello"(Warner Brothers, 1960).

A fun frolic in the mud . . .

[pixrox1 · 9/10 · 20 March 2013]

. . . for Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon at the honeymoon cabin of their characters, down-on-her-uppers entertainer Julia Packett and rich mama's boy William Sylvester Packett, who Ma P has successfully kept apart for 15 years or so. All's well that ends well, as evidenced by the wonderfully slap-stick roll down the woodshed's collapsing log pile by Greer. JULIA MISBEHAVES has some of the elements of a French farce thrown into its mix, as the viewer practically needs a scorecard to keep track of all of Julia's (and her until now estranged daughter, Susan's) fiancés and would-be fiancés. Elizabeth Taylor is fairly low-key as Susan, but Peter Lawford is a hoot as her first on-screen kisser, as is Cesar Romero as acrobat Fred Ghenoccio, hot on Julia's trail (along with Nigel Bruce, who looks somewhat like the Wizard of Oz, Frank Morgan). All in all, JULIA MISBEHAVES is a fluffy fun frolic!

Julia Misbehaves- Garson's Comedic Conduct ***

[edwagreen · 8/10 · 3 April 2013]

Shades of "Lady for A Day," and its remake with Bette Davis of "Pocketful of Miracles," is shown here slightly when a dance hall queen, Greer Garson, wed a wealthy Walter Pidgeon, had a daughter with him and was summarily kicked out of the house by Pidgeon and his mother, Lucille Watson.

Years later Garson returns for her wedding. The film is very much predictable with Garson and Pidgeon again falling for each other and Watson using Cesar Romero as the guy to break it up. Romero's mother, the usually quite funny Mary Boland, is wasted here.

Taylor's husband-to-be is never shown and yet his parents are. Supposedly, he is off on maneuvers as the wedding approaches. Peter Lawford as the painter is infatuated with Taylor and romance blossoms.

Garson and Pidgeon actually did some singing and the last scene where they are both caught in the mud of a rainstorm is humorous.

Garson and Pidgeon had such wonderful chemistry between them in their more dramatic films.

Certainly, this film was a change of pace for both of them and they make it work.

Garson showed her usual dramatic flare in the scene where she meets her daughter for the first time in almost 20 years.She is also a keen mother who realizes that Taylor is falling for the Lawford character.

Garson, Behave!

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 9 September 2011]

In 1936 London, veteran chorus girl and actress Greer Garson (as Julia) takes a bubble bath, then receives an invitation to the wedding of the teenage daughter she abandoned to pursue a career. For some reason, Ms. Garson never got around to divorcing wealthy Walter Pidgeon (as William Sylvester Packett), which should give you an idea where this is heading. Comments from his mother indicate Mr. Pidgeon had no subsequent interest in women. The daughter in question is sweet 16-year-old Elizabeth Taylor (as Susan), who is obviously matched-up with mural painter Peter Lawford (as Ritchie Lorgan)...

Before reuniting with Pidgeon, Garson becomes a throaty singer, leggy dancer, and unlikely "flying acrobatic" performer with the troupe led by suave Cesar Romero (as Fred Ghenoccio), who wants to marry her himself. After witnessing the show, Mr. Pidgeon receives a kiss and spanking from a noisy seal, backstage in Paris. Deciding she wants to buy Ms. Taylor all the past Christmas gifts she's missed, Garson goes out to win some money gambling at a conveniently located casino...

Winning no money at the roulette table, Garson next decides to become a prostitute, while having a smoke at the bar. She makes off with the cash, but leaves picked-up old Nigel Bruce (as Bruce "Bunny" Willowbrook) sexually unsatisfied. Later, Garson disrupts the wedding rehearsal with a superstitious story about the color pink, and then Garson does her seal impression. This, of course, recalls the earlier live seal scene with Pidgeon. None of this plays very well, or even makes much sense. A couple of the later scenes, with Garson and Pidgeon boating while Mr. Lawford gives Taylor a picnic kiss, are sweetly romantic.

**** Julia Misbehaves (8/8/48) Jack Conway ~ Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Peter Lawford, Elizabeth Taylor

Quite a cute comedy!

[JMKG13 · 24 July 2002]

Now, you may say to yourself "Greer Garson **gasp** comedy?!" But this is actually a lovely movie about an actress who is attending her daughter's wedding. She hasn't seen her daughter in many years, since her husband, after "one year and two months (of marriage)... said 'Julia, I don't love you anymore. I think it's better if we separate.'" Julia was only invited by "accident", but one certain daughter insists that she stay, contrary to her grandmother's opinion. The film is very fun, if you don't have one of those minds that have type casted Greer Garson, and can't accept that she has a wider range than "Mrs. Miniver" type roles. She proves very adept at comedy, and also look for what seem to be "inside jokes" in some scenes.

An absolutely hilarious comedy with a great cast of then and future stars

[SimonJack · 10/10 · 27 December 2015]

The moviegoers of 1948 were used to seeing Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon paired in dramatic roles. Since 1941, they had appeared in five films together. So, when MGM paired them in a comedy for the first time, the public reaction was mixed. Some audiences had so typecast the couple that they couldn't appreciate them in anything other than a drama. Particularly not a comedy. But others liked the new Garson, especially. The critics too, were divided. But in the end, "Julia Misbehaves" came out ahead at the box office.

Since then, audiences who weren't brought up with Garson and Pidgeon dramas have not typecast them in those roles. As a result, more people have come to appreciate their performances in "Julia Misbehaves." And, thereby, also to enjoy this very good comedy-romance for the entire cast and its terrific screenplay. For this truly is a superb comedy. The plot is clever and the script has some tremendously funny antics and hilarious dialog.

There is a somewhat serious note in this film as well. But the comedy is everywhere. This is an early major role for Elizabeth Taylor, and it has a tremendous supporting cast. Third place billing belongs to Cesar Romero who gives the funniest performance of any of his comedies. Romero is part of a love triangle, and every scene he's in brings laughs. His comedy performance here is among the very best of someone who's not trying to be funny. Peter Lawford, Lucile Watson and Nigel Bruce deserve mention for their very good supporting roles.

Rather than a screenplay with running humorous dialog, the comedy is neatly packaged in several distinct scenarios. The scenes of Julia (Garson) in an acrobatic troupe on stage are hilarious. That is one of the best movie sequences of comedy from a stage act within a movie. Another such great scene comes to mind while watching this - the Marx Brothers in "A Night at the Opera." Garson is an absolute riot in this scene, and it's all hers. Toward the very end of the movie, Julia and William Packett (Pidgeon) get drenched and covered in mud in a thunderstorm. They slip and fall, and one leg of Julia's sinks in a mud hole up to her knee. It's the funniest weather scene I can recall from any movie.

On a boat crossing the English Channel, Julia meets Freddy (Romero) and his family. He is the head of the famous Ghenoccio acrobatic family. He does pull-ups, handstands and other muscular feats, all the time explaining his family's background. His sport coat is so stuffed with padding that he looks very top heavy. A couple reviewers considered this a poor job of costuming, but one wonders if the studio didn't intend it to be so obvious for the further comedy effect. But there's no doubt Romero was in top physical shape by his muscular demonstrations on ship and later in the Packett home.

Finally, this film has one of the longest segments of verbal jousting and parrying in any film. It's likely the longest between the three members of a love triangle. And this segment even has a fourth person. The scene has nearly five dozen lines that could be broken into two dozen or more hilarious quotes. This is one of those times when it's nice to watch a movie on DVD when one can stop and replay a scene. It goes quite fast. One can watch the changing expressions on Julia's face as each of her earlier tricks to get some cash land her in hot water with Freddy (Romero).

Here are some favorite lines from this film. For more comedy dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie.

Fred says to William as they both stand outside Julia's bedroom door, "She may be your wife, but she's my fiancé."

William, "To say nothing of a stitch in time saves nine." Julia, "What's that got to do with it?" William, "Nothing. It just occurred to me."

Fred, "You took me for a strange man?" Julia, "Not not really." Fred, "Well you either took me or you didn't."

Rom-Com at its finest

[drew-15194 · 8/10 · 7 February 2023]

Funny and frothy, this is the perfect film to watch when you've had a complicated day. All the characters are exactly who they present themselves to be - no cynics, maniacs, or dystopians in the bunch. Julia (Greer Garson) is a fun loving theater performer who is delightfully full of life and unstuffy. Her mother in law is the opposite - a stuffy old bat who issues edicts in her fancy home. Julia's daughter (Elizabeth Taylor) is a gorgeous young lady with a heart of gold who is about to be married, but has doubts. The men are all self absorbed posers, each in his own unique way, and very comical. The entire cast is top notch in this rom-com, the production is too, and the writing is superb. It made me happy watching it, and thats a rare thing in today's films.

M-G-M "misbehaved" by making this turkey!

[Pat-54 · 5/10 · 24 September 1998]

Greer Garson had not appeared in a comedy since the ill-fated "Remember?" in 1939. So M-G-M cast her and her most famous screen partner, Walter Pidgeon, in this, their first (and last) comedy. The only thing worth noting about this film was that Elizabeth Taylor, (then 16 years old) received her first screen-kiss from Peter Lawford in one of the more interesting scenes.

Loved Greer as a dancehall entertainer.

[gkeith_1 · 10 June 2006]

Greer Garson had beautiful and long legs. I did not know any of this when viewing "Mrs. Miniver" or her other movies. In her typical movies, she is quite proper and above all, a remarkable image to look up to for women. In this movie, however, Greer is so much fun. She has to deal with her prim and proper husband, and in the meantime she cavorts with that all-fun-loving hottie Cesar Romero. My favorite part of any of Greer's movies is the dancehall scene in this movie, when she is dressed in a very short plaid pleated skirt with spike heels. Wonderful!!! Her singing is very good, too. Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Lawford are quite cute in this movie. Walter Pigeon is his usual adorable self with Greer Garson. I feel that they were a well matched pair. I did not like Greer's part in the movie "That Forsyte Woman". I know that she wanted to play against type, but the way that the character of her husband (Errol Flynn?) in that movie treated her I felt was so horrible. That was the movie with Robert Young (I think) as the second man. I feel that that was a horrid "Greer" movie, but "Julia Misbehaves" is my favorite. Go Greer!!! Wish she were still here with us. Perhaps she was not so prim and proper in her real life, either. Ever wonder how and why she got her MGM contract so fast (in one day?)? It has been said that Louis B. Mayer never gave anybody anything without their "earning" it first, LOL. Even Judy Garland, IMO. You figure it out.