The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss (1937)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Pretty Good

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Ernest Bliss (played by Cary Grant) is a wealthy playboy and socialite Londoner. He doesn't work and he has nothing to do. He has never had to do anything constructive, and his life has become a bore. He doesn't know what to do to while away his time between evenings of partying. And he doesn't even enjoy the partying and night life.As many another person in his situation, he is unhappy. He can't enjoy all the things that his wealth can buy. He is empty, listless, unsatisfied. A friend recommends a doctor who can "cure" him. Sir James Alroyd (played by Peter Gawthorne) analyzes Bliss's problem in direct and unflattering terms. He suffers from selfish consumption, self-centeredness, a lack of empathy for the travails of others, and the compunction that follows. He couldn't even survive on his own for a year.Thus begins the "Amazing Adventure" of Ernest Bliss. Over the next year, this silver spoon-fed spoiled millionaire must learn how to live. He must learn how to find work, even when there's no work to be found. He must learn to work and hunt, scrape and save, ask and beg – for work, for food, for a break, for a chance. In the course of his adventures and moving from one job and place to another, something amazing happens. He begins to identify with everyday people. His life transforms as he begins to care for others. Life has meaning. Life has purpose, if only to share with others or to help someone out of a tight spot. This film is an amazing story of one man's redemption – his rebirth. And Cary Grant plays the role to perfection. Not that we movie buffs should be surprised. Archibald Leach grew up poor in England, and mostly uneducated beyond age 14. While Grant is most remembered and loved for his many comedies and romantic roles, he was very talented as a dramatic actor as well. He proved it in a variety of roles he had interspersed with his comedy romances over the years. While his acting ability was never in question, some of those films were less than box office smashes. The public would allow him an occasional dramatic role, but for the most part, he had to play comedy and romance. In his leading man roles, he played opposite a host of Hollywood's best female stars of film over a period of four decades.This film had several actors in supporting roles, most of whom did very well in their brief scenes. The one exception is Mary Brian, as Frances Clayton. She had more time than the rest on film, but her role was stiff and wooden at times. As Bliss takes on his year of learning how to live, not all is so serious that we don't have some humor. We see that in a few lines in places, and in one scene toward the end.At one point, Bliss says to his banker, "Oh, what's the difference talking to you about love?" The banker says, "Very little, no doubt. But would a young lady disappear like this if there weren't some other interests?" Bliss says, "Nonsense! She loves me. She said so. I know she does. There's never been anybody else." After a pause, he resumes, "She wouldn't do that! She couldn't do that!" The bankers says, "Whatever that may be, I'd rather fancy that is just what she has done."When Bliss begins his one-year quest without any ID or money, he tells his man/butler, Clowes (played by Quentin McPhearson) that he, Clowes, won't have anything to do for the next year in his job. He is to simply stay in Bliss's home and do nothing until his return. Bliss says, "Now, don't tell anyone about it, Clowes." Clowes says, "I quite understand." I won't say what happens to Clowes over the next months, but when all is resolved later, he says, "Believe me sir, it was having no work made me go wrong. It was too hard a job having nothing to do at all." Bliss says, "Of course it was. That used to be the trouble with me." When Bliss goes into the room to fetch his new bride, Frances, he finds her crying. Bliss says, "Darling, you're crying. What's the matter, baby?" Frances says, "Cinderella didn't cry in the story. But she would have in real life. I'm too happy not to cry. Too happy."This is a wonderful story of one man's redemption, and how that touches the lives of many others. It is based on a book by prolific English novelist Edward Phillips Oppenheim. He wrote more than 100 novels from 1887 to 1941. But for the lesser quality of the film on my DVD, and the sub-par acting noted, it would earn 10 stars.Here are some more favorite lines from the film. For more dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie.Ernest Bliss, "Rather difficult man to see, aren't you, Sir James?" Sir James Alroyd, "Not for those who are punctual. Any other complaints?"Sir James Alroyd, "You know, your father was a clever man... but he made a big mistake when he left you two million pounds to play the fool with." Ernest Bliss, "Believe it or not, Sir James, I'm paying you 20 guineas to give me medical advice, not a lecture."Ernest Bliss, "And believe me, Mr. Masters, this is the first time in my life I've been without a job." Frances Clayton, "You've been very lucky. But, uh, have you ever had one?"Ernest Bliss, "Oh, say, I got the job." Frances Clayton, "I was afraid you would. Mr. Masters can take on anyone." Ernest Bliss, "Afraid I would? Hey, I can sell stoves."

This is a delightful little film. Something of a forgotten gem.It lasts only just over an hour. But manages to pack a lot into that hour. It's all perfectly paced, though. It never seems hurried. Cary Grant is just wonderful as the rich but bored Ernest Bliss who goes slumming it on the streets of 1930's London and finds something very special out there. There isn't a dull scene in the film. Nothing is wasted in the effort to entertain. And it all works very well. This is a taster of what was to come from Cary Grant and he is just superb here. He and Mary Brian have excellent chemistry together. This is definitely a little movie worth seeing.

Fabulously wealthy Cary Grant (as Ernest Bliss) is depressed. Life among the idle rich can be a bore, and Mr. Grant hasn't figured out a way to make it exciting. He goes to a doctor (Peter Gawthorne), who rattles Grant by refusing to shake his hand. The prescription is for Grant to give up his wealth for a year, and earn his living from the bottom. Grant pounds the pavement as a stove salesman, and settles into his job as a chauffeur. At the former, he meets and begins to date pretty Mary Brian (as Frances Clayton).The quest Grant takes really isn't all that amazing, and the romantic subplot sluggishly (and obviously) carries the day. It might have been better to have Grant leave the doctor's office angry, and develop amnesia. He never really abandons the use of his money, as you'll see - though the script argues the point with a caveat. The film uses an abundance of dissolves, and has an interesting close-up sequence featuring Grant emoting. He was close with co-star Ms. Brian, who had been more popular as a silent film ingénue.**** The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss (7/28/36) Alfred Zeisler ~ Cary Grant, Mary Brian, Peter Gawthorne, Henry Kendall

This is an obviously low-budget film from Cary Grant. It seems that most of the stars of the 1940s did a few cheap-o independent films during the 1930s (Bogart and Cagney did a few that I recently reviewed). However, what sets this film apart is that despite its poor quality at times, it's a surprisingly watchable. So, if you ignore one or two flat performances by supporting cast members and sets that are not exactly MGM quality, you'll be rewarded with a decent film. Yes, I'll admit that the plot is just a little bit silly, but because of its charm and brisk pace, it satisfies. Cary plays a rich and lazy guy who finds himself bored with life. When he goes to the doctor, the doc tells him to stop sniveling about his life and DO something productive--get a job and stop being a self-indulgent jerk. Cary takes this as a challenge and decides to make himself over--all for the better. About the only strong negative I felt is that the girl that Cary is destined to marry in the film just seems awfully immature and stupid at the end of the film--I wanted him to find someone better!