The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941)

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Kenneth Earl (story) and
M.M. Musselman (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 July 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

She Came Collect and his heart paid the freight . . . in the year's romantic explosion !

Plot:

A financially-strapped charter pilot hires himself to an oil tycoon to kidnap his madcap daughter and prevent her from marrying a vapid band leader.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Bandleader | Heiress | Nevada | Desert

Cast

James Cagney	...	Steve Collins
Bette Davis	...	Joan Winfield
Stuart Erwin	...	Tommy Keenan
Eugene Pallette	...	Lucius K. Winfield
Jack Carson	...	Allen Brice
George Tobias	...	Peewee Defoe
Harry Davenport	...	Pop Tolliver
William Frawley	...	Sheriff McGee
Edward Brophy	...	Hinkle
Harry Holman	...	Judge Sobler
Chick Chandler	...	Riley (reporter #1)
Douglas Kennedy	...	Mac (second reporter and photographer) (as Keith Douglas)
Herbert Anderson	...	Reporter #3
William Newell	...	Andy Anderson (McGee's pilot)
William Hopper	...	Keenan's and Brice's pilot (as DeWolf Hopper)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sol Gorss	...	Reporters' Pilot (scenes deleted)
Jean Ames	...	Mabel - Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
Peter Ashley	...	Reporter in Amarillo (uncredited)
Mary Brodel	...	KFWB Operator #2 (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Radio Station Man in Booth (uncredited)
Bob Brossard	...	Junior Flight Officer (uncredited)
George Campeau	...	Reporter in Amarillo (uncredited)
Lucia Carroll	...	Steve's Airplane Date (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Policeman - Driver of Car #64 (uncredited)
Richard Clayton	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Garrett Craig	...	Flight Officer (uncredited)
Jimmy the Crow	...	Pop Tolliver's Crow (uncredited)
George Davis	...	Embassy Club Waiter (uncredited)
Peggy Diggins	...	KFWB Operator #1 (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Interrogating Detective (uncredited)
William Forrest	...	Asst. Dist. Atty. Edwards (uncredited)
John Gallaudet	...	Winfield's First Pilot (uncredited)
Paul Gustine	...	Embassy Club Patron (uncredited)
Creighton Hale	...	Reporter #5 (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Embassy Club Patron (uncredited)
Sam Hayes	...	Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Anthony Hughes	...	Policeman in Car #64 (uncredited)
Olaf Hytten	...	Winfield's Valet (uncredited)
Reid Kilpatrick	...	Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Max Linder	...	Embassy Club Doorman (uncredited)
Paul Mantz	...	Winfield's Second Pilot (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Embassy Club Headwaiter (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Reporter / Photographer #4 (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Reporter / Photographer #6 (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Policeman at Interrogation (uncredited)
The Rogers Dancers	...	Dance Trio at Embassy Club (uncredited)
Cliff Saum	...	Airport Mechanic (uncredited)
Garland Smith	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Charlie - Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
Lester Towne	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Richard Travis	...	Airline Dispatcher (uncredited)
Claude Wisberg	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Victor Zimmerman	...	Aeronautics Division Official (uncredited)

Directed by
William Keighley

Writing credits
Kenneth Earl		(story) and
M.M. Musselman		(story)
Julius J. Epstein		(screenplay) and
Philip G. Epstein		(screenplay)

Produced by
William Cagney	....	associate producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Ernest Haller		(as Ernie Haller)

Film Editing by
Thomas Richards

Art Direction by
Ted Smith

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Heath	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert B. Lee	....	sound

Special Effects by
Byron Haskin	....	special effects
Rex Wimpy	....	special effects

Stunts
Floyd Nolta	....	stunt pilot
Harry Froboess	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Mantz	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
Audrey Scott	....	stunt double: Bette Davis (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestrator
Ray Heindorf	....	orchestrator

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1941) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)
• United Artists Television (1969) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #7003) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Ann Sheridan was originally scheduled to ply the Bette Davis role but was on suspension by Warners.

Goofs:

Continuity: In an early scene, when Steve Collins (James Cagney) is walking from the door of the hangar to the office, the end of his necktie is first flapping free above his belt, but in the next shot, it is tucked into his belt.

Quotes:

Pop Tolliver:What do you want with your eggs, bacon or ham?
Steve Collins:Bacon.
Joan Winfield:Ham.
Pop Tolliver:Okay, you'll both get bacon because I don't feel like cutting into a new ham.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Brother Can You Spare a Dime (1975)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus

My very favorite movie.

When I watch a movie, I like to laugh, and that's why this is my favorite movie of all time.

It's the only pairing of James Cagney and Bette Davis, and the sparks do fly. You might call this a variation on the theme of "It Happened One Night." James Cagney plays a cargo pilot asked to aid in an elopement that would result in a disastrous marriage for an heiress. Her father offers him payment if he delivers her home unmarried. The ending is predictable, but the journey to it is not. Great fun.

Oh, I know there are so many other "important" and wonderful movies out there. I love a lot of them. But rarely has one tickled and surprised me the way this one did.

Let others favor the big famous movies. I'll take this little gem.

I'm surprised that more people haven't recognized its charm.