Honeymoon in Bali (1939)

Bill Burnett, a resident of Bali, visits New York City, meets and falls in love with Gail Allen, the successful manager of a Fifth Avenue shop, who is determined to remain free and ... See full summary »

Director:

Edward H. Griffith

Writers:

Grace Sartwell Mason (original story), Katharine Brush (original story),

Stars:

Fred MacMurray, Madeleine Carroll, Allan Jones

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred MacMurray	...	Bill 'Willie' Burnett
Madeleine Carroll	...	Gail Allen
Allan Jones	...	Eric Sinclair
Akim Tamiroff	...	Tony, the Window Washer
Helen Broderick	...	Miss Lorna 'Smitty' Smith
Osa Massen	...	Noel Van Ness
Carolyn Lee	...	Rosie, Daughter of Bill's dying Friend
Astrid Allwyn	...	Fortune Teller at Egret Room
Georgia Caine	...	Miss Stone, Gail's Secretary
John Qualen	...	Meek Man
Fritzi Brunette	...	Secretary
William B. Davidson	...	Store Detective
Benny Bartlett	...	Jack, Singing Telegram Boy (as Bennie Bartlett)

Storyline

Bill Burnett, a resident of Bali, visits New York City, meets and falls in love with Gail Allen, the successful manager of a Fifth Avenue shop, who is determined to remain free and independent. Bill proposes, Gail declines and Bill goes home to Bali. But a young girl, Rosie, and Tony the Window Cleaner, who dispels advice on every floor, soon have Gail thinking maybe she was a bit hasty with her no to Bill's proposal. Ere long she discovers that she does love Bill and can't live without him. She goes down to Bali to give him the good news. He learns that he is soon to marry Noel Van Ness. She goes back to New York City.

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | fortune teller | department store | island | happy birthday to you | 

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Taglines:

Those "Honeymoon In Bali"...UUUUUMFFF GIRLS...They've got what it takes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Are Husbands Necessary?

Filming Locations:

Bahamas

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Edgar Schoenbaum took over as director of photography for two days when Ted Tetzlaff caught the flu.

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Quotes

Gail Allen: I suppose you're the kind of man that thinks a woman's place is in the home.
Bill 'Willie' Burnett: Well, isn't it?

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Connections

Spoofed in The Film Fan (1939)

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Soundtracks

"O Paradis"
(French version of "O Paradiso")
Music by Giacomo Meyerbeer
from the opera "L' Africaine"
Sung by Allan Jones

User Reviews

Oh How I Fancy Madeleine Carroll !!

Since I watched her in the Hitchcock film, "The 39 Steps (1935), I have admired Madeleine for her cool blond, sophisticated skill as an actress. "Honeymoon in Bali" was a very enjoyable film which did not telegraph its ending until the final scene, a tribute to the intelligent screenplay and writer.In some ways the plot is modern despite it being over 70 years old.There are still many career girls working in New York who are bright, but are emotionally lonely and always on the lookout for "Mr Right", I worked for an American Bank and met quite a few bright American girls in our London office (and was even propositioned by one).Madeleine Carroll is her own boss and has a highly successful well paid career and is loath to surrender it all up for a mere man!She has the sophisticated NYK accent off pat and plays her bright, intelligent and attractive self.

Love comes knocking in the shape of Fred MacMurray whom she meets in an expensive boat showroom in the heart of Manhattan.Madeleine has a best friend (Helen Broderick) who incautiously reminds her that her opera singing boyfriend (Allan Jones) has not put enough candles on the cake.The singing telegram scene is flat and without emotion despite Allan Jones giving an operatic version of "Happy Birthday".You sense Madeleine needs emotional fulfillment at this point.As to the candle discrepancy, in a bit of repartee worthy of Oscar Wilde, Madeleine retorts,"I always think one shouldn't have people around you know for too long".

Fred is the legal guardian of a little girl and asks whether Madeleine would temporarily look after her, but Madeleine must put her career first.Fred has worked in Bali and has a platonic relationship with a foreign girl who is already contemplating marriage to him.A window cleaner played by Akim Tamiroff cleans Madeleine's office windows and appears something of a philosopher who rates Fred but not Allan Jones.Gradually Madeleine becomes emotionally attached to Fred's little girl and even treks to his home in Bali when she realises she really loves him.

Although we cannot have a sad ending, in a denouement worthy of the great Jane Austen herself, the film ends leaving us with a feel-good factor, (although we are kept guessing right up to its end).A triumph for the great Madeleine Carroll sufficient to make Robert Donat really jealous!!