Reprise

By RICHARD SCHICKEL

UNFAITHFULLY YOURS

Directed by Howard Zieff

Screenplay by Valerie Curtin, Barry Levinson and Robert Klane

One of cinema's immutable rules holds that any remake must invariably be inferior to the original. We do not reward embezzlers with good-citizenship prizes, do we? But rules are made to be broken, and the new version of Preston Sturges' 1948 comedy, Unfaithfully Yours, scores a narrow but clean win over one's nostalgic sentiment for the old master's original. Director Howard Zieff has retained the classic farcical premise: a jealous husband (Dudley Moore) is erroneously convinced that his young wife (Nastassja Kinski) is cuckolding him and is maniacally determined to gain revenge. Sturges' neat twists are retained too: the husband is still that paradigm of dignity in need of mussing, a symphony orchestra conductor; and while leading the orchestra, he still fantasizes a perfect but totally impractical plot to murder his bride.

The 1984 version offers more consistently inventive staging and better dialogue, which becomes a sort of merrily muttered accompaniment to the main comic theme. It was, of course, wonderful to watch the meltdown of Rex Harrison's icy aplomb in the original, and one cannot expect that of Moore; there is only a half-pint of him to melt. But the range and control of his facial expressions are a joyous astonishment, and the Ministry of Silly Walks should declare him a national treasure. Kinski too is back within her best range, cheerfully sexy instead of glumly sultry. In short, Unfaithfully Yours is faithful to comedy's best professional standards. It is smart, well paced, nice looking and reminds you of Hollywood's good old days without making you mourn for them. --By Richard Schickel