This Marriage Business (1938)

New York city reporter Bill Terry (Allan Lane and his photographer-assistant "Candid" Perry (Jack Carson) follow an eloping heiress to a small New York town where he hears the marriage ... See full summary »

Director:

Christy Cabanne

Writers:

Mel Riddle (story), Alex Ruben (story),

Stars:

Victor Moore, Allan Lane, Vickie Lester

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Victor Moore	...	Jud Parker
Allan Lane	...	Bill Bennett
Vickie Lester	...	Nancy Parker (as Vicki Lester)
Cecil Kellaway	...	Police Chief Hardy
Jack Carson	...	'Candid' Perry
Richard Lane	...	Joe Selby
Kay Sutton	...	Bella Lawson
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Frankie Spencer
Vinton Hayworth	...	Attorney Lloyd Wilson (as Jack Arnold)
Frank M. Thomas	...	Mayor Frisbee
Leona Roberts	...	Mrs. Platt
George Irving	...	Madden

Storyline

New York city reporter Bill Terry (Allan Lane and his photographer-assistant "Candid" Perry (Jack Carson) follow an eloping heiress to a small New York town where he hears the marriage license clerk, Jud Holcomb (Victor Moore), give advice to the eloping couple, and he learns that no couple who has received a license from Jud has ever been divorced. Bill writes a story and Jud becomes a celebrity. Bill falls in love with Jud's daughter, Nancy (Vickie Lester), and local attorney Lloyd Wilson (Vinton Hayworth) finds he has become a jilted suitor. Jud is pleased as he dislikes Wilson because he is too friendly with roadhouse owner and political power-holder Joe Selby (Richard Lane), who controls Mayor Frisbee (Frank M. Thomas), Commissioner Perkins (Bryant Washburn) and Police Chief Hardy (Cecil Kellaway). Bill and Candid recognize Selby as a former NY gangster who had framed his partner Frankie Spencer and then gone away with Frankie's girl friend Bella Lawson (Kay Sutton), who is ...

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Plot Keywords:

mayor | police chief | heiress | suitor | gangster | 

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Taglines:

Gang Guns Bark in Middletown, in War to a Finish! (original poster)

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1938 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min 71 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The print shown on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) channel was missing the director credit. It was probably right after the title frame, since there was an abrupt change to the frame giving the producer credit, while other credit frames faded out slowly. The title frame itself was also tampered with; the normal "RKO Radio Pictures, Inc." at the top was overlaid with "RKO Pictures."

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Soundtracks

"Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)"
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner
In the score for a wedding

User Reviews

Remembrances and Prefigurements

What was Jack Carson, who had a role in the 1954 version of A STAR IS BORN, in which the main character was named Vicki Lester, doing in 1938? Well, he was appearing in this comedy, in which the ingénue role is played by Vicki Lester.

Although not well known or respected, this is a snappy little comedy starring Victor Moore as a small town justice, none of whose weddings have ended in divorce. Alan Lane is a reporter and the rest is a fairly busy little story. There are the usual nice Christy Cabanne visual touches -- a camera that moves pleasantly and a nice little gag involving taffy.

There's also a good professional cast including such talent as Cecil Kellaway and George Irving. In fact, the only downside to this sweet little comedy-drama is Miss Lester, whose voice tends to suggest a hard-boiled dame more than a sweet small-town girl. Add in the wonderful photography of veteran D.P. Joe August and you've got a nice little movie.