Consider the relationship between the US and Russia in 1961 and you wonder how Billy Wilder had the guts to make this film.
Made when the Cold War was in full bloom, "One, Two, Three" is the story of a Coca-Cola executive running the bottling plant in West Berlin.
Sounds like serious stuff Huh?? Well not exactly. "One, Two, Three" is a brilliantly structured comedy that has the pace of a normal drive on the Autobahn.
Wilder spares no one. The Russians, Germans, space race, capitalism and communism all are ridiculed in the screenplay co-written by longtime collaborator I.A.L. Diamond.
The catalyst is one CP MacNamara, the aforementioned manager. He is living in West Berlin complete with a typical American wife, two American Kids, and a gorgeous mistress who gives him "German lessons".
Along comes Scarlett Hazeltine, the flighty daughter of one of the top executives of the company who is being sent to Europe so her father can break up her American romance.
It is MacNamara's responsibility to keep Scarlett from getting into trouble, which is exactly what she does.
James Cagney is MacNamara. He shouts and bellows and goes way over the top but his interpretation is nothing short of perfect. He is as energetic as the pace and never stops. Pamela Tiffin plays Scarlett and does it so expertly you really think she is a ditz. Horst Buckholtz, never known for comedy shows a surprising flair for the medium, and whoever thought of Arlene Francis for the role of Cagney's wife deserves a special cudo. Known more as a radio hostess and panelist on "What's My Line" then as a major thespian, Francis expertly plays off Cagney.
This is one of Cagney's greatest performances. And one of his legendary. After it he went into retirement, burned out after 30 non-stop years on the screen. It would be 2 decades until he came back. Oh what we missed in those 20 years.
Made when the Cold War was in full bloom, "One, Two, Three" is the story of a Coca-Cola executive running the bottling plant in West Berlin.
Sounds like serious stuff Huh?? Well not exactly. "One, Two, Three" is a brilliantly structured comedy that has the pace of a normal drive on the Autobahn.
Wilder spares no one. The Russians, Germans, space race, capitalism and communism all are ridiculed in the screenplay co-written by longtime collaborator I.A.L. Diamond.
The catalyst is one CP MacNamara, the aforementioned manager. He is living in West Berlin complete with a typical American wife, two American Kids, and a gorgeous mistress who gives him "German lessons".
Along comes Scarlett Hazeltine, the flighty daughter of one of the top executives of the company who is being sent to Europe so her father can break up her American romance.
It is MacNamara's responsibility to keep Scarlett from getting into trouble, which is exactly what she does.
James Cagney is MacNamara. He shouts and bellows and goes way over the top but his interpretation is nothing short of perfect. He is as energetic as the pace and never stops. Pamela Tiffin plays Scarlett and does it so expertly you really think she is a ditz. Horst Buckholtz, never known for comedy shows a surprising flair for the medium, and whoever thought of Arlene Francis for the role of Cagney's wife deserves a special cudo. Known more as a radio hostess and panelist on "What's My Line" then as a major thespian, Francis expertly plays off Cagney.
This is one of Cagney's greatest performances. And one of his legendary. After it he went into retirement, burned out after 30 non-stop years on the screen. It would be 2 decades until he came back. Oh what we missed in those 20 years.