Love Is a Headache (1938)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Louis E. Heifetz (story)
Herbert Kline (story)

Release Date:

14 January 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Window Washer | Theater | Adoption | Accidental Death

Cast

Gladys George	...	Carlotta 'Charlie' Lee
Franchot Tone	...	Peter Lawrence
Ted Healy	...	Jimmy Slattery
Mickey Rooney	...	Mike' OToole
Frank Jenks	...	Joe Cannon
Ralph Morgan	...	Reginald 'Reggie' Odell
Virginia Weidler	...	Jake' OToole
Jessie Ralph	...	Sheriff Janet Winfield
Fay Holden	...	Mary, Peter's Secretary
Barnett Parker	...	Hotchkiss, Carlotta's Butler
Julius Tannen	...	Mr. Hillier

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #3982) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Brava Gladys!

This gives the superb Gladys George a good, meaty role. The plot is a bit well-worn. But she is in all her glory as a temperamental grand lady of the stage with a heart of gold. (The plot involves no drinking on her part, which is a nice change from the general typecasting her tough voice and soft manner brought.) Let's get one thing clear: The title means nothing. It seems slapped on out of desperation. What romantic title could not be called "Love Is A Headache"? From "Gone With the Wind" to "Mala Noche," with many stops in between, there could have been hundreds of movies with that title.

The supporting cast is fun. Franchot Tone is fine. Mickey Rooney and Virginia Weidler are real pros.

Though I liked this primarily because of Ms. George, I have to say that Rooney shines. He had that quality the camera loved that certain big stars had. Marilyn Monroe is one of them. When either of these two appeared in a movie's early scenes, the audience sits up and says "Whoa! Who is THIS?"