Utterly hysterical, with Grant at his most frantic as he enlists his ex-wife to investigate the story of the century of an escaped death row convict. So many good moments in this I can't pick my favorite. And even after so many years, it is still a good depiction of government, media, etc. ( )

Odd (but true to era) juxtaposition of very capable female dominated by male protagonist.
Some absurdities in the plot; make that a lot of absurdities.
(Personally, I find Cary Grant irritating rather than attractive; he dithers too much.) ( )

The stupendous Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur providing the words and Howard Hawks the beautiful direction. I crave movies like this and mostly only find them deep in the past. Cary Grant and Ros Russell are needle-sharp lovers, such perfection. In 40 years of watching this it has never looked creaky or bored me. You can barely believe the lightning between these two. ( )

1961

92 minutes - B&W / classic