Vacation from Love (1938)

Director:

George Fitzmaurice

Writers:

Patterson McNutt (writer)
Harlan Ware (writer)

Release Date:

30 September 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Beautiful Woman | Couple | Divorce

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Dennis O'Keefe	...	W.D. 'Bill' Blair
Florence Rice	...	Patricia Lawson
Reginald Owen	...	John Hodge Lawson
June Knight	...	Flo Heath, Band Singer
Edward Brophy	...	Barney Keenan, Band Leader
Truman Bradley	...	Mark Shelby
Tom Rutherford	...	T. Ames Piermont III the Bridegroom
Andrew Tombes	...	Judge Brandon
Herman Bing	...	Oscar Wittlesbach
George Zucco	...	Dr. Waxton
Paul Porcasi	...	French Judge
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Danny Dolan, Hansom Cabbie
Armand Kaliz	...	M. Fumagolly, Divorce Lawyer

Runtime:

66 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 #4687)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

...and vacation from anything remotely funny.

Florence Rice was the daughter of Grantland Rice, an extremely popular and influential sportswriter of the 1920s and '30s who also starred in the 'Sportlight' series of sport-related movie shorts. He used his influence to help his daughter get a movie contract. Florence Rice proved to be a blonde of above-average looks but no great acting ability. She's pleasant to watch on-screen, but leaves no lasting impression.

SLIGHT SPOILERS. 'Vacation from Love' is mere froth, and it's not even especially good froth. Florence Rice plays Patricia Lawson, a society daughter who's about to marry a man named T. Ames Pierpont the Third (you mean there's two more of him?). He wears hornrimmed glasses, and his name is T. Ames Pierpont the Third, so you just know he's going to be left at the altar. Veteran character actor Andrew Tombes gives a brief but hilarious performance as the judge presiding over the civil ceremony. When he asks if anyone objects, somebody does: a handsome saxophone player, portrayed by Dennis O'Keefe. Apparently he objects because lovely blonde Patricia is about to marry a rich nerd named T. Ames Pierpont instead of a handsome but penniless sax player.

Yes, friends, this is the 1,398,427th movie in which the heroine dumps a dull responsible guy in favour of a reckless yahoo with too much testosterone ... and also the 1,398,427th movie in which we're meant to approve her choice. On a whim of the moment, Patricia ditches Pierpont and runs off with Bill Blair, the saxophonist. From the way he honks that sax, he should change his name to Blare.

From here, it degenerates into very predictable marital comedy. Andrew Tombes's brief role is funny: no other character actor conveyed flustered frustration better than bald-domed Tombes. (Edgar Kennedy's 'slow burn' conveyed a slightly different emotion.) Once Tombes is off the screen, this movie goes downhill fast. Herman Bing and the great Edward Brophy are welcome presences, but neither is up to his usual high standard. I'll rate this movie just 4 out of 10.