This was a farcical episode featuring the return of Noel Prince. About two months earlier, as originally aired, Ann met a charming English photographer named Noel Prince. He used her as a model and fell in love with her. She refused, telling him that she and Donald had an "understanding" even though they weren't engaged. He explained that as long as they weren't committed, that he still had a chance.
This episode features Noel coming to New York for a few days, wanting to see Ann. She debates whether she should see him with Donald, who stupidly, accidentally, talks her into seeing him, since Noel has never been rude to her. They both knew or should have known, exactly why Noel wanted to see her. If he wanted her to model for him again, he would have told her on the phone when he called.
As friends, Ann happily goes out to dinner with him-and Donald as well, where Noel stiffs Donald with the check. The next morning, Noel comes by Ann's at 8 to ask her out to dinner. She actually seems surprised that he'd want dinner with just her and not also with her boyfriend. Now the night before, Noel had expressly asked if their romance had made any progress, and was happy to learn they still just had this vague "understanding." That night, after dinner, Noel asks Ann if she'd marry him, stating that he doesn't mind if she doesn't love him, that this would come in time. He believed that she'd love living his high life, traveling about the world, etc. And would come to love him. He was a total gentleman with her, but one who believed he was in love with her. Ann wants to say "No" right away, but he insists she not tell him until morning, to give him at least one more night of hoping.
This leads to a ridiculous-on purpose-dream Ann has where she marries both Donald and Noel. In one part, Ann proclaims it's been six months since she got married. Noel says it's only been three. She explains that three months with each of them equals six.
The dream includes a Noah's Ark type scene where her father is Noah, who insists she cannot bring two husbands onto his boat because then he'd have to kick out a giraffe.
There are two jealousy scenes where Donald and Ann discuss things. No proposal from this "friend" of hers can spur Donald on to proposing himself, which would seem a logical thing. They could have continued the series just as they did, only with the couple having a long engagement, as some couples do.
Back in 1941 there was a rather comical movie starring Ginger Rogers titled Tom, Dick & Harry, about a girl who truly had three suitors and was trying to decide which one to marry. But it wasn't at all a debate between a guy she loved, and had loved for some time, and someone she only liked. In the film, she couldn't figure out which one she truly loved.
Here, Ann seems really stupid about understanding Noel's intentions. He had told her months ago he loved her and his questions about her relationship with Donald clearly showed he was still interested-that as long as she and Donald hadn't made any commitment-such as becoming engaged-that he was going to give it his best shot.
Donald was quite annoying in this one. At the dinner, he kept making snide remarks to and about Noel, clearly showing his jealousy. This could well have led to Ann becoming angry with Donald, which could have led her...to reconsidering Noel.
Things Ann and Donald said kept making me call out, "Are you that stupid?" Truly, this episode had them both being oblivious to what Noel intended and dumb about how to respond. It seems to me that someone came up with this dream sequence they thought was hilarious (it too was stupid more than funny) and they carelessly crafted the rest of the episode around it.
This is one episode in my DVDs I hope I remember NOT to watch again whenever I wish to see more of this normally funny series. I give it a 3.
This episode features Noel coming to New York for a few days, wanting to see Ann. She debates whether she should see him with Donald, who stupidly, accidentally, talks her into seeing him, since Noel has never been rude to her. They both knew or should have known, exactly why Noel wanted to see her. If he wanted her to model for him again, he would have told her on the phone when he called.
As friends, Ann happily goes out to dinner with him-and Donald as well, where Noel stiffs Donald with the check. The next morning, Noel comes by Ann's at 8 to ask her out to dinner. She actually seems surprised that he'd want dinner with just her and not also with her boyfriend. Now the night before, Noel had expressly asked if their romance had made any progress, and was happy to learn they still just had this vague "understanding." That night, after dinner, Noel asks Ann if she'd marry him, stating that he doesn't mind if she doesn't love him, that this would come in time. He believed that she'd love living his high life, traveling about the world, etc. And would come to love him. He was a total gentleman with her, but one who believed he was in love with her. Ann wants to say "No" right away, but he insists she not tell him until morning, to give him at least one more night of hoping.
This leads to a ridiculous-on purpose-dream Ann has where she marries both Donald and Noel. In one part, Ann proclaims it's been six months since she got married. Noel says it's only been three. She explains that three months with each of them equals six.
The dream includes a Noah's Ark type scene where her father is Noah, who insists she cannot bring two husbands onto his boat because then he'd have to kick out a giraffe.
There are two jealousy scenes where Donald and Ann discuss things. No proposal from this "friend" of hers can spur Donald on to proposing himself, which would seem a logical thing. They could have continued the series just as they did, only with the couple having a long engagement, as some couples do.
Back in 1941 there was a rather comical movie starring Ginger Rogers titled Tom, Dick & Harry, about a girl who truly had three suitors and was trying to decide which one to marry. But it wasn't at all a debate between a guy she loved, and had loved for some time, and someone she only liked. In the film, she couldn't figure out which one she truly loved.
Here, Ann seems really stupid about understanding Noel's intentions. He had told her months ago he loved her and his questions about her relationship with Donald clearly showed he was still interested-that as long as she and Donald hadn't made any commitment-such as becoming engaged-that he was going to give it his best shot.
Donald was quite annoying in this one. At the dinner, he kept making snide remarks to and about Noel, clearly showing his jealousy. This could well have led to Ann becoming angry with Donald, which could have led her...to reconsidering Noel.
Things Ann and Donald said kept making me call out, "Are you that stupid?" Truly, this episode had them both being oblivious to what Noel intended and dumb about how to respond. It seems to me that someone came up with this dream sequence they thought was hilarious (it too was stupid more than funny) and they carelessly crafted the rest of the episode around it.
This is one episode in my DVDs I hope I remember NOT to watch again whenever I wish to see more of this normally funny series. I give it a 3.
