Casanova Brown (1944)

Cass Brown is about to marry for the second time; his first marriage, to Isabel, was annulled. But when he discovers that Isabel just had their baby, Cass kidnaps the infant to keep her ... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Floyd Dell (play), Nunnally Johnson,

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Frank Morgan

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Cooper	...	Casanova (Cass) Brown
Teresa Wright	...	Isabel Drury
Frank Morgan	...	Mr. Ferris
Anita Louise	...	Madge Ferris
Edmund Breon	...	Mr. Drury (as Edmond Breon)
Patricia Collinge	...	Mrs. Drury
Jill Esmond	...	Dr. Zernerke
Mary Treen	...	Monica Case, the Maid
Emory Parnell	...	Frank, the Bell Captain
Isobel Elsom	...	Mrs. Ferris
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Charles, the Butler
Charles Cane	...	Hicks
Larry Olsen	...	Junior (as Larry Joe Olsen)
Irving Bacon	...	Hotel Manager
Dorothy Tree	...	Nurse Clark

Storyline

Cass Brown is about to marry for the second time; his first marriage, to Isabel, was annulled. But when he discovers that Isabel just had their baby, Cass kidnaps the infant to keep her from being adopted. Isabel's parents hunt for the child and discover that Cass and Isabel are still hopelessly in love.

---

Plot Keywords:

baby | marriage | butler | pregnant woman | flashback | 

---

Taglines:

Don Juan did all right in his day...but he was a piker compared to Casanova Brown

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1944 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Casanova Júnior

Company Credits

Production Co:

International Pictures (I), Christie Corporation, Nunnally Johnson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paulette Goddard was originally considered for the Teresa Wright role.

---

Connections

Version of Little Accident (1939)

User Reviews

Funny, zany, silly--but forced and dated, too...give it a whirl?

Casanova Brown (1944)

A not-so-screwball comedy, but a comedy, based on the solid writing of Nunnally Johnson. The idea is a really 1940s one: can a man raise a baby? Throw in a leading man who is so thrown by his dilemma he marries or almost marries three women (all in the same room at one point), and so on and so on.

Cary Cooper is the superstar, and he's his usual likable but slightly dull (restrained) self, and he might not be the best for the role, but in a way that's the point, that the man is clumsy and awkward about anything maternal. The cast around him is terrific, including Frank Morgan (who was the wizard in The Wizard of Oz). And the third star, Teresa Wright, is her predictably sweet and perky self, once she arrives on the scene.

It's a zany plot, for sure, and if it drags a little sometimes, or is just a bit corny, that's part of it. The convergence of the various people who are at odds with each other without knowing it is almost inevitable, but when it happens it clicks. And Frank Morgan is key, more than anyone. The photography might not seem to matter in a film that is so plot heavy, and so insane, but in fact the cinematography by John Seitz is really superb, and helps make the thing hold together.

If you watch the first twenty minutes you'll know whether to watch the rest. I really think some people will find this too old fashioned in its humor, and a little to contrived and silly, too. But others will be glad for the non-stop absurdity, for the nice filming, and for the almost surreal strangeness of events.