Perfect Understanding

1933 1h 20m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 8

RomanceComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A young couple decide to marry under the condition that they agree never to disagree. That agreement is soon put to the test when the husband finds himself attracted to a beautiful young woman.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Gloria Swanson
Judy Rogers
Laurence Olivier
Nicholas Randall
John Halliday
Ivan Ronnson
Nigel Playfair
Lord Portleigh
Michael Farmer
George Drayton
Genevieve Tobin
Kitty Drayton
Nora Swinburne
Lady Stephanie Fitzmaurice
O.B. Clarence
Dr. Graham

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Cyril Gardner
Writers: Michael Powell, Miles Malleson
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

80 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

93 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Cyril Gardner, shot by Curt Courant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Editor Thorold Dickinson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Gloria Swanson and Laurence Olivier and John Halliday carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0024436 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Cyril Gardner directs. Curt Courant behind the camera. Thorold Dickinson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

180 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
293 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Cyril Gardner, shot by Curt Courant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Thorold Dickinson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Gloria Swanson and Laurence Olivier and John Halliday carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0024436 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Curt Courant
Editing: Thorold Dickinson
Runtime: 80 min · 1h 20m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Perfect Understanding (1933)

Also by

Cyril Gardner

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-06-13
★ 6/10
I can't help thinking that Cyril Gardner may have done better with this had it been a silent film. There are some stunning photographic scenes and at times, it verges on the travelogue as Gloria Swanson ("Judy") and a very dashing Laurence Olivier ("Nick") meet, fall in love and engage in an early thirties version of a "open marriage". They travel the length and breadth of Europe before he ends up in Cannes visiting a friend whilst she decants home to prepare their flat in London. In Cannes, "Nick" gets a bit sozzled and hooks up with old flame Nora Swinburne ("Lady Fitzmaurice") after getting injured in a high speed (and quite entertaining) power boat race... Riddled with guilt, he goes home and tells his wife. Ostensibly she forgives him, but does she? Does she, really - or is the green eyed monster about to rear it's ugly head? It's got it's fair share of schemers and plenty of rather childish tit-for-tat antics to keep the plot moving - sometimes quite amusingly, and there is definitely a chemistry between the two stars, but the dialogue just clutters things up and the whole thing is just a bit lightweight. Nothing wrong in that, I suppose, but I really wanted more from this pairing...

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