Twin Beds (1942)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Kenneth Earl (writer)
Salisbury Field (play)

Release Date:

30 April 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

YOU'LL ROAR WHEN TWIN BEDLAM BREAKS LOOSE! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Mike Abbott just wants to spend a quiet evening at home with his wife, but her collection of zany friends make hash of his hopes. |

Plot Keywords:

Wife | Dog | Beautiful Woman | Based On Play

Cast

George Brent	...	Mike Abbott
Joan Bennett	...	Julie Abbott
Mischa Auer	...	Nicolai Cherupin
Una Merkel	...	Lydia
Glenda Farrell	...	Sonya Cherupin
Ernest Truex	...	Larky
Margaret Hamilton	...	Norah
Charles Coleman	...	Butler
Charles Arnt	...	Manager

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of Twin Beds (1929)

A complete failure

This is truly one of the worst films ever made by a major studio. It's shockingly bad, for the cast consists of first-rate people, and the year, 1942, was filled with the glories of filmdom that began in the mid 1930s, including the screwball comedy.

Somebody at United Artists decided to take a lousy although moderately successful play and turn it into a film. The script doomed the movie from the beginning. George Brent does the best he can with his part; indeed, one could argue that he was never less wooden. Joan Bennett, as beautiful as ever, is playing the Myrna Loy role, but there just isn't enough in the script worth her talent. Mischa Auer as a major comedian is a disaster. He is wholly unfunny and irritating. At one point, the director had him imitate the Harp Marx bit with the mirror. This flops too. Glenda Farrell and Una Merkel are simply wasted in the film.

There is nothing amusing in this "comedy," and no reason to see it. The actors must surely have been embarrassed. This viewer was.