The Marriage Playground (1929)

Director:

Lothar Mendes

Writers:

Doris Anderson (adaptation) (dialogue)
J. Walter Ruben (writer)

Release Date:

13 December 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Society | Children | Based On Novel

Cast

Mary Brian	...	Judith Wheater
Fredric March	...	Martin Boyne
Lilyan Tashman	...	Joyce Wheater
Huntley Gordon	...	Cliff Wheater
Kay Francis	...	Lady Wrench
William Austin	...	Lord Wrench
Seena Owen	...	Rose Sellers
Philippe De Lacy	...	Terry Wheater
Anita Louise	...	Blanca Wheater
Mitzi Green	...	Zinnie Wheater
Billy Seay	...	Bun Wheater
Ruby Parsley	...	Beatrice Wheater
Donald Smith	...	Chip Wheater
Jocelyn Lee	...	Sybil
Maude Turner Gordon	...	Aunt Julia Langley

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) | Silent

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by MCA ever since.

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Children (1990)

Super Screwball Comedy Gem

Here are the quickest 75 minutes of your life. A delightful pre-code cocktail recipe. Take three couples (add gin and tonic), their several divorces and the seven children/stepchildren of their intermarriages and blend thoroughly, and you have a mixture a too-young-to-believe Frederic March will try to straighten out.

Whew! That said, let me straighten out a possibly intentional preconception. These sophisticated couples, with an early flirting reference, seem to be playing to the naughty implication of the title. You'll comprehend the title once you've met the kids, because they are the heart of this film. Now a cast including Frederic March, Lilyan Tashman, Kay Francis and Seena Owens giving great performances can't be upstaged, right? Well this batch is the best I've seen. They steal every scene and are given lines which mirror just what you're thinking. And they deliver them like bullets. It's timed like some successful stage play where the comedy has been closely honed in front of an audience. March is doing his job just keeping a straight face!

It all works thanks to a wide open Mary Brian as the oldest (17) of the kids. Her full throttle approach to the role locks all the elements together. She has to work vigorously to keep stability in the kids custodial situation. Indeed, spying on her charges, she discovers them playing Divorce Court.

Director Lothar Mendes loaded the film with brilliant touches. Mary Brian as Judy has a full, puffy coiffure while the other females have close, short hairstyles. The eternally effeminate William Austin's on hand to be Kay Francis' "big, strong (rich) man". Mitzi Green teaches him what its like to be a father, making him her pony. The children interface with adults on adult terms, playing them like violins. I won't disclose some delicious scenes as they should be yours to discover. Have fun!