Nothing burns brighter and more intensely than an old relationship that has been rekindled – there is something about falling in love all over again with someone you considered to be your soulmate that is quite rare, but extremely special when it happens. For the characters in That Certain Feeling, it poses quite a problem, since it results in a love triangle that threatens to leave all parties involved at a disadvantage – but like any mainstream Hollywood comedy, it all works out in the end, giving these characters the happy ending they deserve. Directed by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, who were working from a screenplay on which they collaborated with William Altman and the legendary I. A. L. Diamond, the film tells the story of a hapless, low-profile cartoonist hired to be the ghost writer for a prominent illustrator (whose comic strips have grown stale, leading him to have to find ways to boost his style, or risk losing his luxurious syndication deal), only to find that he has been inadvertently added to the household of his ex-wife, who left him years before when she decided to seek out a better life in New York City, not being particularly enamoured with the life he was offering her in small-town Michigan. An upbeat and outrageously funny film, and the kind of charming comedy-of-errors that were essentially a dime a dozen at the time, That Certain Feeling is a delight – simple but evocative, and radically funny in all necessary areas, the film is as charming as this kind of run-of-the-mill romantic comedies tended to be, even if it isn’t particularly inspiring on a conceptual or tangible level, which is not entirely important for a film of this calibre, since its humour and heartfulness is more than sufficient.

Logically, the first piece of information we learn about That Certain Feeling is also the most important element to understanding what the approach to the narrative would be – this is a film designed to be a vehicle for Bob Hope, who was at the peak of his popularity here, having essentially emancipated himself from the pairing he had with Bing Crosby (which produced many great films, and their friendship was terrific), which had been a limit to him as a solo comedian, especially since they both wanted to pursue other avenues of performance, more than their wacky, off-the-wall comedic style. As a result, this film follows the same structure as many Hope vehicles – it is essentially a fish-out-of-water tale about an eccentric everyman who finds himself in a strange scenario, surrounded by hostile characters who are cynical about his skills, but he ultimately manages to outsmart them and emerge victorious. There was nothing about That Certain Feeling that was original or subversive, and while Hope would attempt to do more challenging work around this time (one only needs to think of The Facts of Life), slightly more dramatic films that aimed to show that Hope could do drama, although not very well), this was not one of them, instead being a film created specifically to riff on his persona, employing all of his famous tricks and techniques, capturing his irreverent humour and even giving him a couple of songs to perform, aiming to be the essential Bob Hope experience. As a result, anyone who didn’t particular feel a connection to Hope, or perhaps found him repulsive or off-putting (a sensation that is becoming more common with every passing story that we hear about his behaviour and off-screen demeanour, which was not as nice as many would hope), but for those who do carry some fondness for his style, this film will certainly be worthwhile.

Beyond being a vehicle for his talents, That Certain Feeling does feature a more thoughtful kind of performance on behalf of Hope. It is easy to see that he was trying to be taken more seriously, and much like other comedic actors that had been shoehorned into a very particular kind of persona, he sought out a way to play a character that still drew on his comic abilities, but also allowed him to abandon the character archetype that had become defining of his career. We ultimately find Hope playing a more subdued character – Francis X. Dignan is a fascinating individual, and while it may have been more appropriate played by someone known for more meek, milquetoast characters (since his entire arc is about how he earns confidence to stand up to his cruel employer – the idea of someone as formidable as Hope being intimidated by George Sanders is by far the most far-fetched aspect of the film), but he is otherwise still very good, playing the part with honesty and authenticity, which is in itself an admirable trait that the film is not afraid to explore through the process of telling this story. He is joined by Eva Marie Saint, who is allowed to show her more comedic side, rather than just being the object of desire for the male protagonist, as was the case with many of the films she was making around this time, and the aforementioned Sanders, who was also at his peak, playing more villainous characters, likely a byproduct of his iconic work in All About Eve, where it appears like the entire industry collectively decided that it was far more appropriate for him to play antagonists, using his debonair charm to great effect in less-likable roles. A special mention must be given to Pearl Bailey, who may have been cast solely on her singing ability, but she becomes the heart of the film, the narrator of the story that serves as our guide into this world, and she proves that she was simply extraordinary in all facets of her career, tying this film together and being by far the most interesting aspect that lingers with us long afterwards.

There comes a moment in That Certain Feeling where the tone suddenly changes – the outrageous humour becomes a lot more dull, and the overall atmosphere is slightly darker, almost as if it were changing course and trying to be a more sombre affair. Part of this comes from the fact that Hope was showing a lot more restraint – in the moments where we would expect an outrageous, funny descent into his typical persona, he reined it back and aimed to be more dramatic than usual, which is quite a strange experience if you are not expecting it. As a whole, this film is still a comedy, but it is far more aware of its emotions. If anything, the film is funnier because it pays attention to the smaller, character-based details, rather than the off-the-wall scenarios that we may have expected. This is a far more serious film than we may be used to, but this is all because there was a sense of urgency in what everyone involved was trying to do, which essentially comes down to the fact that this is focusing more on the comedic aspects of the story, rather than the smaller details that are otherwise inconsequential and ultimately not that important, other than supplementing the story that surrounds these more touching moments. Some may be surprised that Hope could be capable of such tenderness, since his entire persona was centred around smarmy individuals who always believe they belong in a socio-economic class one rung above their actual status, and would have very few qualms letting you know that they genuinely believe themselves to be better than you. Here, everyone is far more human, with the foibles and flaws that many people tend to exhibit, giving this film a far more empathetic tone, which is precisely where many of the most profound statements are contained. It isn’t particularly funny in a traditional sense, but the humour is still sharp and meaningful, which is exactly where the film is at its most interesting.

The fact that it had seasoned veterans at the helm, and was populated by many fantastic actors who were bringing their interpretation to this fascinating screenplay meant that That Certain Feeling was never going to be a failure, even if there are technically many better comedies produced during this era. This film is not going to be re-evaluated as some lost masterpiece, and it has received exactly the kind of reception it deserves in hindsight, but an atypical entry into the career of one of our most fascinating comedic actors, and while this is not the best representation of Hope’s talents by any means (especially since he had proven on countless occasions to be at his best when he is allowed to be funny, rather than skirting around the edges of drama, as we see here), we still find so much charm and nuance contained within this film, which is a powerful, eccentric and very funny romantic comedy that understands its audience, both those who come to see a Bob Hope vehicle, and the ones who simply were hoping for a more tender, romantic film that touches on resonant themes. Charming and enticing, and quite complex in how it portrays its characters, this film is an absolute delight, and a softhearted depiction of a love triangle that is propelled by genuine passion, with several well-placed, meaningful jokes peppered throughout the story, enough to capture our attention and make it such a poignant and funny film.