Made for Each Other (1939)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Rose Franken (story)
Jo Swerling (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 February 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Young lawyer meets and marries girl after knowing her one day. Takes bride home to meet his mother who disapproves of the marriage...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Lawyer | Baby | Mother In Law | Pneumonia

Cast

Carole Lombard	...	Jane Mason
James Stewart	...	John Horace 'Johnny' Mason
Charles Coburn	...	Judge Joseph M. Doolittle
Lucile Watson	...	Mrs. Harriet Mason
Eddie Quillan	...	Conway (pilot)
Alma Kruger	...	Sister Madeline

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #4846) | UK:U

Company:

Selznick International Pictures

Trivia:

Special effects technician Edmund E. Fellegi was killed when he fell from a 40-foot catwalk while releasing balloons for the New Year's Eve party scenes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Johnny comes home drunk, his collar changes throughout the scene from being flipped up in the back to being properly placed.

Quotes:

Jane: Oh! I hope Higgins *beats* Higgins!

Soundtrack:

Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

Awkward as a whole, shining in parts

As a whole, this movie doesn't work at all. Different parts of the story jump around here and there and fail to form a cohesive piece -- the result of a poorly written script. For instance, halfway into the movie and you still get no idea of where it is all going. You get a vague sense that Johnny's (Jimmy Stewart) inability to support his family and the consequent strain on his relationship with his wife is part of the main plot, only to be completely thrown off by a new development in the story, which doesn't fit into the first portion of the film at all. It's almost like watching two different stories at the same time.

Despite this serious flaw, the film is "saved," so to speak, by its superb cast. Both Charles Coburn and Lucille Watson give their typical character portrayals. Jimmy Stewart gives his usual touching performance that is so well-known to film-goers. Meanwhile, Carole Lombard tries a hand at a dramatic role -- and succeeds. As a wife, she is charmingly believable, and as a mother, simply shines. Thus the unfortunate film is held together -- albeit weakly -- by the performance of the cast. Otherwise there isn't much that would convince one to keep watching. However, it may be worth your time if your main object is to enjoy the performance of either Jimmy Stewart or Carole Lombard, or both.