Love, Honor and Behave (1938)

A woman raises her son Ted to be a good loser, in effect creating a weakling who never asserts himself. Even after marrying his childhood sweetheart Barbara and assuming family obligations,... See full summary »

Director:

Stanley Logan

Writers:

Clements Ripley (screen play), Michael Jacoby (screen play),

Stars:

Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, John Litel

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Wayne Morris	...	Ted Painter
Priscilla Lane	...	Barbara Blake
John Litel	...	Jim Blake
Thomas Mitchell	...	Dan Painter
Dick Foran	...	Pete Martin
Barbara O'Neil	...	Sally Painter (as Barbara O'Neill)
Mona Barrie	...	Lisa Blake
Minor Watson	...	Dr. 'Mac' MacConaghey
Donald Briggs	...	Yale Tennis Coach
Margaret Irving	...	Nan Bowleigh
Gregory Gaye	...	Count Humbert
Dickie Moore	...	Ted - as a child
Audrey Leonard	...	Barbara - as a child
Crauford Kent	...	Tennis Announcer

Storyline

A woman raises her son Ted to be a good loser, in effect creating a weakling who never asserts himself. Even after marrying his childhood sweetheart Barbara and assuming family obligations, Ted cannot bring himself to fight for respect. The worm finally turns when Barbara starts stepping out on her Milquetoast husband, who then turns out not to be so passive after all. All comes full circle in this slyly symmetrical romantic comedy, with the final scene neatly skewering the complications set up in the opening reel.

---

Plot Keywords:

infidelity | tennis | divorce | elopement | new york | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Everybody Was Very Nice

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Boola, Boola"
(1998) (uncredited)
Written by Allan M. Hirsch
Adapted from "La Hoola Boola"
Written by Bob Cole and Billy Johnson
Played during scenes at Yale

User Reviews

A dated drama with politically incorrect messages.

I'm probably in the minority, but this film sends out wrong messages about good sportsmanship and domestic violence. I do believe in winning when playing a game and in standing up for one's rights at all times, but not by cheating and not with physical violence. When Wayne Morris senses the referee was in error when called a ball hit by his opponent "out" in a college tennis game, he purposely throws the next point away, which costs him the game. He's chastised by his father (Thomas Mitchell), who believes in winning at all costs, but praised by his mother (Barbara O'Neill), whose actions Morris is emulating. Earlier in the film, their disagreement in matters such as this ended up in a divorce. Mitchell even says if she had been angry and even struck him when he was caught philandering he would not have left her. The idea that hitting a person to show you care seemed to me to be ludicrous, but it permeates the entire film (and in other movies of the 30's, when spousal abuse was not a catchword). Now Morris is married to Priscilla Lane and is faced with a similar problem.

I did enjoy most of the acting, even though Lane comes on a bit too aggressive for my taste, and very hostile to her mother-in-law. The supporting players, including the child actors, give very competent performances.