Double Wedding (1937)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Ferenc Molnár (play)
Jo Swerling (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 October 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Two sisters of differing temperaments, the younger's milquetoast fiancé, and a free spirited artist in an auto trailer have romantic complications in this screwball comedy.

Plot Keywords:

Milquetoast | Trailer | Screwball | Sister | Wedding

Cast

William Powell	...	Charles 'Charlie' / 'Horse' Lodge
Myrna Loy	...	Margit 'Baby' Agnew
Florence Rice	...	Irene Agnew
John Beal	...	Waldo Beaver
Jessie Ralph	...	Mrs. 'Stonewall Jackson' Kensington-Bly
Edgar Kennedy	...	Spike
Sidney Toler	...	Mr. Keough, Margit's Butler
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Keough
Barnett Parker	...	Mr. Flint, Margit's Bookkeeper
Katharine Alexander	...	Claire Lodge
Priscilla Lawson	...	Felice, Margit's Secretary
Bert Roach	...	Shrank

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #3611) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Production was partially shut down because of the death (7 June 1937) of Jean Harlow, to whom William Powell was engaged.

Goofs:

Continuity: In a scene near the end that takes place in William Powell's trailer, an Oscar statuette is visible in the background standing on a white shelf. In the next shot, the statuette is on top of a black box that is on the white shelf. The following shot has the Oscar back on the white shelf. A few moments later, the statuette is knocked over, and is seen toppling from on top of the black box again.

Quotes:

Waldo Beaver: Gangway, I've got yump!

Movie Connections:

References A Day at the Races (1937)

Soundtrack:

The Wedding March

Not a Masterpiece, Just Delightfully Cracked

Watching this movie was like looking through a beautiful, whimsical kaleidoscope. So many facets are perfect: Loy at her peak of gorgeous, wry sophistication; the Deco sets; Powell's gentle irony; the relationships of various characters and the consistency of dialog; even the physical pranks were great--and I don't like slapstick all that much! This film reminded me of Shop Around the Corner. It wasn't as good, that's a tall order, but there was something bigger going on in this movie than just the usual romantic farce. I have to admire the writer's and director's ability to pull off a romantic comedy between two such diametrically opposed people. The heroine is the quintessential control freak; the hero, as laid back and tolerant as a hippie of the sixties. No one apologizes for their quirks, which is refreshing, and neither of them had to change all that much to make the ending work. And as far as acting goes, Loy and Powell don't hold back any punches (literally!) whenever the two characters collide. It is amazing to watch them knowing how they were reacting to Harlow's death during shooting. I love finding old movies, and this one is buried treasure.