I think they were totally...
...having an affair (Bill and Muriel).
No evidence, it just seemed that way to me?
Any thoughts?
I don’t think they were having an affair, but I do think that it would be easy for anyone to suspect it. I love this movie, and maybe I’m just biased toward Cary Grant but it seemed to me that Muriel and the girls did not treat Jim with much respect. Consider the following:
1.Jim brings Muriel her coffee in bed, and it’s obviously a regular routine.
2.When Muriel showers, it is routine for Jim to hand her the washcloth, towel, etc.
3.When Jim’s trying to get ready for work, Muriel keeps getting in the way. It’s not like she had a job; why couldn’t she either get ready after he left, or get up a little early and be out of the bathroom before him? (She also had a housekeeper/cook…there are only four of them in the family – how much help does she really need?)
4.Muriel took her ideas and estimates from Bunny to Bill, not to Jim.
5.When Bill says that tearing out the wall is a bad idea, Muriel automatically agrees with him.
6.When they take the paperwork to Bill, and he tells them they’ve made a bad deal, Muriel immediately says they should have talked to Bill first.
7.When they are all trapped in the closet no one seems prepared to do anything about it except sort of make fun of Jim for his solution. Granted, he was a little over-the-top, but still…what would Muriel or Bill have done differently?
8.Muriel isn’t too sympathetic when they realize that SHE misread the train schedule, forcing Jim to change his daily schedule. She then drives Bill to the train station alone.
9.Although the rainstorm wasn’t anyone’s fault, Muriel should have loaned Bill a spare robe – I got the impression that he was wearing Jim’s new one?
10.Why did Muriel tell Jim that she’d given Bill back his pin, when she obviously hadn’t?
I guess Muriel just bugs me, and Bill kind of does, too, what with his pipe and always being right. I take great satisfaction in the paint color scene, knowing that her persnickety orders about the colors will be ignored. But I also realize that a lot of the things I complain about are what drive the movie. Maybe I should just read the book.
My. You really DID pay attention.
I came to his board because I've seen the movie once, but forgot a great deal about it (even though I saw it recently). Anyway, I'm getting it through Netflix today--and I'm super excited! My, how extremely dorky I am.
Anyway, I really loved what you had to say. When I watch it later I'll be taking notes to everything you mentioned.
I personally don't think they were having an affair either, but I do understand why Jim was jealous about their relationship. He always appeared wrong to Bill's right and that'd irk the heck outta anybody!
-----
RIP Daisy
ksgeo above has many good points about how Muriel took Jim for granted, and manipulated him into meeting her fantasies.
She hides his socks and packs the closets, to give him the impression they need more room and should move. Same thing getting in his way while trying to shave. They have a small NY apartment and a housekeeper, but doesn't give Jim any consideration.
As far as any affair with Bill, I think it's time for a new lawyer and best friend. Bill doesn't feel the need to marry, since he is a friend with benefits.
Who knows what Muriel had to do? Did she see the kids off to school? They never go over her routine -
I got the feeling that Muriel was just about dead and useless until she got her first cup of coffee - in that scene her head is down like a rag doll – I felt her husband understood this, got her first cup of coffee, and after a sip or two of coffee she was at least human.
The relationship with Bill, Muriel and Jim was something that was built - and not in a day. This is how they got along, part of the appeal of their friendship. If Jim didn't like Bill's banter, or Muriel's intelligent comments and wit, he would have never married her probably, and would not have had Bill as his lawyer and friend.
I got the impression that Jim realized after a few thoughts that Muriel would not betray him, and neither would Jim.
I got the feeling the Muriel did not remember not giving back the ring - which does seem odd as it was in her jewelry box. But you didn't seem to have any remorse on her part for lying -
As far as Muriel taking paperwork to different people, instead of Jim - I think she realized how much he had on his plate, and quite possibly she had the car while he took the train - though I don't recall that part precisely.
Muriel agreeing with Bill regarding the deal - who wouldn't agree with Bill? Paying four times what a local would pay for the same property, getting 15 acres less than what was promised - it would have been prudent to look at other properties.
As far as making fun of Jim - who wouldn't? He plays a very uptight character - he needs people like Muriel and Bill to complement his character.
Overall, I love this movie!
Let's not forget the girls' progressive teacher Miss Stellwagon who castigates Mr Blanding's profession: "advertising makes people who can't afford it buy things they don't want with money they haven't got."
And is his coolness toward Bunny Funkhouser's $7,000 proposed renovation comically unreasonable, being that it represents half of his $15,000 annual paycheck?
By 1948, the archetypic American male was already well away on his transition from head of house to the comic fool he is today.
This is how married couples are. They had been married for years.
Some of what you list is for the sake of comedy, like them getting ready at the same time in the morning. It makes for an amusing scene.
As for the other stuff, she sends papers to Bill because he's a business man, while Grant is almost totally ignorant of business matters...and knows it. Bill is not only their friend, but also their attorney.
I think it's fine that a husband do little things for his wife. She did quite a few things for him, after all. She ran the household, making sure to get foods for HIM, she cleaned the house while he wasn't there, she prepared coffee for him, etc.
Married couples do little things for each other.
I guess Muriel just bugs me, and Bill kind of does, too, what with his pipe...
Jim also smoked a pipe. share