Second Honeymoon (1937)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Kathryn Scola (writer)
Darrell Ware (writer)

Release Date:

3 April 1938 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Love is better the second time around.

Plot:

Newly remarried woman finds her businessman husband boring and runs into her wealthy playboy first husband.

Plot Keywords:

Belt | Ex Wife | Miami Beach | Valet | Possessiveness

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Raoul McLish
Loretta Young	...	Vicky
Stuart Erwin	...	Leo McTavish
Claire Trevor	...	Marcia
Marjorie Weaver	...	Joy
Lyle Talbot	...	Bob Benton
J. Edward Bromberg	...	Herbie
Paul Hurst	...	Dennis Huggins
Jayne Regan	...	Paula
Hal K. Dawson	...	Andy
Mary Treen	...	Elsie

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Microphonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

First film under 20th Century Fox contract for director Walter Lang, who was to remain faithful to the firm for 25 years on end.

Quotes:

Raoul McLish: Well, you're not my valet any longer, Mac.
Leo McTavish: Huh?
Raoul McLish: Beginning tomorrow you're in the ink business. You're going to be my personal representative at the factory, learning the works at first. But with your thirst for knowledge, you'll soak up the ink business like a blotter.

Rather hysterical...and far from the stars' best work

This screwball comedy surprised me. I've already seen a few Tyrone Power-Loretta Young films and liked them very much. This one, on the other hand, was far less enjoyable and just a bit shrill--with lots of actors shouting their lines--even the usually demure Miss Young. All too often, the film seemed to try a bit too hard and ended up being a very loud and far from subtle film.

Power and Young play a couple who have divorced each other and now Young is married to dull old Lyle Talbot. When Power comes on to the scene, he claims it's all an accident and he has no intentions towards his -ex, but it's obvious to almost everyone (except poor Lyle) that Tyrone wants his wife back. In many ways, the film reminds me of several of Cary Grant's films such as THE AWFUL TRUTH and MY FAVORITE WIFE, as well as the Colbert-McCrea film, PALM BEACH STORY--though all of these films are made better. The bottom line is that there have been many similar movies that were simply written better--with better dialog and far less yelling. As a result, this is a thoroughly mediocre film and not among the stars' best.

By the way, look for Lon Chaney, Jr. in a tiny part as a reported towards the end of the film. Look fast or you'll miss him in one of his earlier roles.