It's Love I'm After (1937)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

Maurice Hanline (story) and
Casey Robinson (writer)

Release Date:

20 November 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Listen, You...it's LOVE I'm after! - ...and it's love you're going to get -- in the neck!

Plot:

Basil Underwood and Joyce Arden have postponed their marriage eleven times. Henry Grant's fiancée Marcia is infatuated with Basil...

Plot Keywords:

Affair | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Leslie Howard	...	Basil Underwood
Bette Davis	...	Joyce Arden
Olivia de Havilland	...	Marcia West
Eric Blore	...	Digges, Basil's Valet
Patric Knowles	...	Henry Grant, Jr.
George Barbier	...	William West
Spring Byington	...	Aunt Ella Paisley
Bonita Granville	...	Gracie Kane
Georgia Caine	...	Mrs. Kane (as Georgia Craine)
Veda Ann Borg	...	Elsie, a Maid
E.E. Clive	...	First Butler
Valerie Bergere	...	Madeleine, Joyce's Maid
Sarah Edwards	...	Mrs. Hinkle
Thomas Pogue	...	Mr. Hinkle
Grace Field	...	Mrs. Babson (as Grace Fields)

Also Known As:

Gentlemen After Midnight (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Vitaphone

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (certificate #3297)

Company:

First National Pictures

Quotes:

Basil Underwood: Have you seen a mad woman 'round here?
Butler: Which one sir?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The American Film Institute Salute to Bette Davis (1977) (TV)

Limitless Energy

It's Love I'm After concerns a famous acting couple (Leslie Howard and Bette Davis) whose fighting often outweighs their love for each other. When a young girl (Olivia De Havilland) develops an intense crush on Howard, her fiancée takes it upon himself to make a deal with him to be mean to her. Howard does it to improve his moral standing but takes a few relapses as everything he does excites Havilland even more. This is a truly funny comedy with an excellent cast.

Olivia De Havilland appears here in an early role. Her enthusiasm and innocence make her seem younger than she is and very high-strung. However, her performance is perfect for the part.

It seems that in Hollywood there were two legitimate British actors: Howard and Charles Laughton. Laughton's weight forced him into fatherly roles and Howard's good looks pushed him toward romantic leads. Howard's presence in this film reflects his talents as an actor and this stereotype but the two are incorporated brilliantly. He shines the brightest.