An incredibly likable cast fails to rise above what is known as one of the worst screwball comedy's ever. It's nor a fault of the stars, pretty much the fault of the writer, producer, director and home office for demanding the participation of veteran Lew Ayres, new top star Robert Taylor, and in her second film, British newcomer Greer Garson. Professionals all, they do their best to hide any disgust they might have felt after understanding the hopeless script, the absurd story and the risk of being labeled box office poison in a year that this list was published. Old pals Taylor and Ayres find themselves at odds over the pretty Greer Garson, ironically engaged to Ayres. Involvement in a fox hunt has Garson and Taylor eloping, Ayres being graceful over it, and Taylor instantly disagreeable over his dislike of her entire family. That includes stuffy Reginald Owen, dizzy mother Billie Burke and flibbertigibbet aunt Laura Hope Crews. Taylor and Garson file for a quickly divorce, but numskull Ayres decides to reconcile them with a ridiculous drug that brings on amnesia.Perhaps the female audiences bought this kind of nonsense in 1939, but the critics rightfully panned it. Audiences stayed away, the three stars managed to recover, and the film got tossed aside from memory. But the late show, home video and TCM have brought it out of the dustbin. A few funny moments here and there add only a few laughs, but mostly it's full of groans. The MGM gloss can't make up for how bad this is, although a supporting cast (also including Sara Haden as Taylor's secretary and Henry Travers) add what little class there is. Do we remember? Unfortunately yes! The whole thing begins to repeat itself towards the end, leading to an outlandish conclusion.

It's a very difficult task to make a film about a cheating fiancée and a betraying your best friend into a light comedy. But that is exactly what Remember? tries to do. The basic premise is that Greer Garson and Lew Ayres are a couple. Robert Taylor is Ayres best friend and when he meets Garson he starts romancing her right under Ayres nose. This is suppose to be funny. Taylor is unbelievably suave and handsome and I guess that is suppose to make it alright with the viewer.Garson upon meeting Taylor leaves Ayres to his work while she spends the day with Taylor. She returns later for her date with Ayres, with Taylor still in tow. Again, this is suppose to be funny. Taylor and Garson soon marry leaving Ayres and the viewer in a state of shock. The storyline downplays the conflict (and reality) and has Ayres as a nice guy who tries to bring his ex-fiancée and best friend back together after they have a falling out.I believe the film is trying to be a romantic comedy, however I found it neither funny nor romantic.

The idea of a soon to be divorced couple taking a drug that causes amnesia AND their falling in love all over again is a cute idea for a romantic film. However, there is just too much irrelevant comedic stuff in the first half of the film that just seems poorly written and a bit silly. Sticking with this story idea and introducing it much sooner might have helped the pacing--and gotten rid of all the irrelevant crap early in the film.The film starts with Lew Ayers introducing his fiancée (Greer Garson) to his best friend (Robert Taylor). Like a good friend, Taylor steals Greer for himself. At this point, the film is half completed--and made Garson and Taylor seem like real jerks. Poor Ayers--he seemed like such a nice guy that you couldn't help but hate the newly married couple. Why did they include this initial plot at all? There were some supposedly comedic moments leading up to it and Billie Burke plays her idiot routine well--but why write the film this way? It was as if the film didn't trust itself to be a romance and so it through in comedy and plot elements that seemed anything but romantic.Overall, it's not a bad film but a huge waste of talent. With Greer Garson (just off her success in GOODBYE MR. CHIPS), Robert Taylor and Lew Ayers, it should have been dynamite. The biggest problem is making it a goofy comedy instead of a romance. Blame for this goes to the writers and producer--why did they do this?!

Anything coming out the same yr as Gone With the Wind and Wiz of Oz didn't really have a chance...stars Greer Garson, Robert Taylor, and Lew Ayres. some very clever bits in the script...the revolving door gag, and when Billie Burke (she was busy that yr!) says "We'll have a big breakfast. Do you like horses?" and of course the implication is that she was serving horse for breakfast..but they were going to have a fox hunt AFTER breakfast. Lot of fun bits, but you kind of have to buy into the memory loss deal. G. Garson reminds me of Myrna Loy... strong-willed, plain talking, speaks her mind. I liked Lew Ayres better in HOLIDAY... keep an eye out for Henry Travers as the Judge, an old friend of the family (he was "Clarence", the friendly ghost in "Its a Wonderful Life"). Some of the gags fall flat, like the "color of my eyes", since its in black and white. For the most part, its a fun, all around love-story farce. Directed by Norman McLeod, who had directed the Marx Brothers and W.C. Fields, so he certainly knew how to make a comedy! this has pretty low ratings, but its a cute little love story. /ksf-2