Love Is a Headache (1938)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

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

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Alexander	...	Reporter Johnson (uncredited)
Sam Ash	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Georgie Billings	...	Mike's Friend (uncredited)
Marie Blake	...	Hillier's Secretary (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey	...	Waiter (uncredited)
June Brewster	...	Betty Bartholomew, a Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Don Brodie	...	First Reporter (uncredited)
Chester Clute	...	Pants Salesman (uncredited)
Jules Cowles	...	Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
Richard Cramer	...	Process Server (uncredited)
Edgar Dearing	...	Detective 'Pinch' Reardon (uncredited)
Leigh De Lacey	...	Neighbor of the O'Toole (uncredited)
Sarah Edwards	...	Mrs. Warden, Fan from New Jersey (uncredited)
Jim Farley	...	Plainclothesman (uncredited)
Chester Gan	...	Louie, Peter's Butler (uncredited)
Howard C. Hickman	...	Editor Williams (uncredited)
Leyland Hodgson	...	George, Odell's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Leonard Kibrick	...	Mike's Friend (uncredited)
Henry Kolker	...	Mr. Sam Ellinger (uncredited)
Robert Middlemass	...	Police Commissioner (uncredited)
Bea Nigro	...	Elegant Woman at Dock (uncredited)
Jack Norton	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Oscar O'Shea	...	Pop Sheeman, Stage Doorman (uncredited)
Gil Patric	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Lillian Read	...	Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Buster Slaven	...	Mike's Friend (uncredited)
Phillip Terry	...	Club 44 Radio Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Thorpe

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Louis E. Heifetz		story (as Lou Heifetz)
Herbert Kline		story (as Herbert Klein)
William R. Lipman		writer
Marion Parsonnet		writer
Harry Ruskin		writer

Produced by
Frederick Stephani	....	producer

Original Music by
Edward Ward

Cinematography by
John F. Seitz		(as John Seitz)

Film Editing by
Conrad A. Nervig

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Andre	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Edwin B. Willis	....	associate art director
Joseph C. Wright	....	associate art director (as Joseph Wright)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Music Department
Franz Waxman	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Loew's
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

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?"