writers_reign This film oozes charm and warmth with the feel of an America that never really existed like the Carvel of Andy Hardy or the England of Quiet Wedding. For many people this was the start of Clifton Webb's career, for slightly older filmgoers his career began four years previously with his Waldo Lydecker in Laura, but for seriously old Broadway buffs he began as an accomplished and debonair song-and-dance man a quarter of a century earlier (he was, for example, in Cole Porter's first Broadway Show, See America First (a flop) in 1916 and in 1937 he introduced Porter's At Long Last Love. With Lynn Belvedere the role and the man came together triumphantly and ever after he played only leads. We should give at least a nod in passing to Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara, who actually get top-billing and Richard Hadyn as the 'old woman' gossip but it's Webb's movie from the very first frame in which he appears.

MartinHafer This first "Mr. Belvedere" film is a film with very modest goals and it achieves them quite well. It is a family comedy about an incredibly stuffy know-it-all named Belvedere who comes to live with a couple whose kids and dog are extremely difficult, to say the least. Mr. Belvedere isn't exactly a nanny or housekeeper, but sort of like a boarder who also helps out with the kids but doesn't do the cooking. Miraculously, the kids and dog shape up very quickly (though I really couldn't see why) but although the arrangement seems ideal, nosy neighbors (especially the one played by Richard Hayden) try to undo this by spreading rumors that Belvedere and the lady of the house were having an affair! All this is handled very cutely and much of the credit needs to go the the writers as well as the great performance of Clifton Webb as Belvedere. While Maureen O'Hara and Robert Young are just fine as the husband and wife, Webb truly steals the show with his charming performance that seems highly reminiscent of the later cartoon character, Mr. Peabody (who is rumored to be modeled after Webb). An excellent family movie that deliberately avoids sappiness or extreme sentimentality.

susan-scholey This is one of my favourite comedies. I have seen this movie countless times and always manage to laugh myself to tears. Can you imagine meeting someone like Belvedere who seems to have done every job imaginable? I think all the cast did a wonderful job in this movie and I only wish that the movies of today were like this one. No swearing, car chases just plain old fashioned fun. I am sure that there are towns in the world that have neighbourhoods like Hummingbird Hill with nosy neighbours who watch your every move. My husband and I are also wondering when are they going to put this movie out on DVD? They seem to pass over these Classics for some reason which is such a shame.

dpb-12 This is one of the classic comedies of its era! It's a simple comedy with a unique idea......a movie the whole family can see and enjoy....unlike the movies which come out today. I'm not sure why today's movie makers think we want to hear the language they put in almost every movie. Get a grip.......we don't want to hear it! My mother remembers actually seeing this film in the theaters and told me that everybody was howling! The crowd apparently loved it and you will too! Clifton Webb is perfect as Mr. Belvedere and this may have been his best performance ever. Although, some people may argue with me on that point, considering he was so great in 'Laura'. I can't believe Sitty Pretty isn't out on DVD!!