‘A Fine Pair’ on DVD

Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's

A Fine Pair is a clever and somewhat cute 1968 film starring Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale. If you think this is going to be like the Hudson/Day films, think again. It’s a stylish and sophisticated romp through Europe in a story that has plenty of twists and turns.

Hudson is Captain Mike Harmon of the New York Police Department. He’s a by-the-book guy with everything in its place. He likes order and continuity. Cardinale is Esmeralda Marini, an old friend whose father was a policeman in Italy and a friend of Harmon. She’s a free-spirit sexually liberated young woman who knows what she wants.

When Esmeralda arrives in NYC, she goes straight to Harmon with a problem. It turns out she’s a jewel thief. She will be in trouble when the authorities discover the jewels are stolen from one of the richest families. So, as a favor to her deceased father, Harmon decides they have to go to Europe together and put the jewels back in the safe from which they were stolen before the owners discover the theft.

Harmon is an ex-detective and knows his way around a city to find out how to take on a challenge. He does this in Austria with Esmeralda as his accomplice in this reverse caper. Or is it a reverse caper?

While in Austria the two become closer and Harmon begins to let down his stuffy guard. He is slowly converted to the freedom the 1960s has to offer, thanks to the help of Esmeralda. They are cute together, but they are on the opposite side of the law. That is until she tells him she has stolen more jewels and after a clever resolution in Austria they travel to Italy for another reverse caper. Or so he thinks.

Cardinale is adorable in this role. Even though she’s conniving all along, viewers have to enjoy her and root for her.

Composer Ennio Morricone’s score adds fun and lightheartedness to the film. It’s a fun little story with Cardinale showing the freedom of the time and Hudson converting from stodgy to cleverly adventurous. When viewers see the moment he switches, they are in for a treat. This is not one of his best romantic comedy films. As a matter of fact it isn’t one his top five. But it has its moments.

A Fine Pair is part of the Warner Archive Collection and is available from their website. It’s rated PG.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter