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 Boom in Middletown! Young love goes to war with New York's mobsters! (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

The Dog Stays in the Picture

New York City reporter Allan Lane (as Bill) is so interested in pursuing a celebrity wedding, he passes on assisting pretty blonde Vicki Lester (as Nancy), who has run out of gas on a "Middletown" road. With photographer Jack Carson (as "Candid") assisting, Mr. Lane not only gets his story, but also discovers that small town marriage man Victor Moore (as Jud) has never had a couple file for divorce. Lane dubs Mr. Moore "Cupid", and decides to write a series of feature stories about the lucky wedding man.

When Lane and Mr. Carson arrive for dinner at Moore's country home, they discover Ms. Lester (the pretty stranded motorist) is his daughter. For some reason, Lane and Lester show no surprise at the discovery. At first, Lester doesn't forgive Lane for neglecting to give her gas. But, he is determined. Lane also helps Moore run for mayor, but gangsters interfere. "This Marriage Business" gets its best licks from "Corky" the jail-house free dog. You won't see a "No Dogs Allowed" sign in the "Middletown" jail.

*** This Marriage Business (4/8/38) Christy Cabanne ~ Victor Moore, Allan Lane, Vickie Lester, Jack Carson