Snowed Under (1936) User Reviews

A Lighthearted Comedy

[atlasmb · 6/10 · 7 April 2014]

At only 63 minutes long, "Snowed Under" is plenty long for its subject--a comedy about a playwright who holes up in a Connecticut cabin to finish a play, but is continuously interrupted by interlopers. I thought this film felt like a converted stage play, but it is not. Regardless, I think "cute" best describes this story about rekindled love amidst mayhem.

Alan Tanner (George Brent) is the playwright who seeks a third act. His first wife, Alice (Genevieve Tobin), is recruited by his producer to get the creative juices flowing in Alan. The second wife shows up seeking alimony, accompanied by a sheriff's deputy and an attorney. To further complicate things, a young woman with a crush on Alan injects herself into the proceedings.

While everyone is snowbound for a night, Alan and Alice try to write the third act that triggered this tale.

I can't say this is a great story or a hilariously funny piece, but I really enjoyed it. There are too many flaws to consider "Snowed Under" a classic comedy, but it tickles the funny bone. After a while, it feels like doors are slammed just for the sake of slamming them. But there are some good lines (e.g. "Now I hate to interrupt baby's first steps.") And the characters are likable. This comedy does not take itself too seriously and the lightheartedness is infectious. It would be fun to see what Clark Gable could have done with the Alan Tanner part.

The merry women of George Brent

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 21 December 2018]

Snowed Under casts George Brent as a playwright who is working to get a third act right for producer Porter Hall. To get away from it all he's taken a mountain cabin up in snow country to get some privacy and the creative juices flowing.

Privacy is about the last things he gets in this somewhat claustrophobic comedy where all three women in his life come for a visit. Ex-wife Genevieve Tobin arrives first, current estranged wife Glenda Farrell is second who brings along lawyer John Eldredge and Deputy Sheriff Frank McHugh to get either her back alimony or Brent in the pokey. Finally there's current girlfriend Patricia Ellis who kind of sneaks in when no one is looking.

Snowed Under is short and fast paced comedy in which Glenda Farrell stands out in this cast. Brent learns that old adage of it's cheaper to keep her.

We kind of know right away who Brent winds up with, still Snowed Under is a lot of fun with an impeccably cast ensemble.

That's snow business

[marcslope · 6/10 · 3 January 2017]

Modest Warners comedy, a little over an hour and filmed essentially on one set, has playwright George Brent holed up in his Connecticut retreat struggling to come up with a third act, where he's visited by the first wife he still loves (Genevieve Tobin, who's charming and elegant), the second wife who wants her alimony (Glenda Farrell, who's a little too shrill and boisterous), and the kid who wants to be No. 3 (Patricia Ellis). Frank McHugh also shows up to arrest him, and a housekeeper who ought to be Clara Blandick but isn't helps out. It's so one-set that it seems to be derived from a stage farce, but isn't, and implausibilities pile up--if it's such a snowstorm, why are the roads so clear? How does Brent get over to the housekeeper's house? Why is everybody suddenly fainting? Gags, such as McHugh getting covered in snow, get overworked, and Ray Enright, never the most dynamic Warners director, doesn't make much of the slender material. But it's nicely shot, with particularly lovely snowbound exteriors, and the cast looks like it's having fun.

Nice Little Gem with Great Cast

[Michael_Elliott · 6 December 2013]

Snowed Under (1936)

*** (out of 4)

Surprisingly entertaining comedy about a writer (George Brent) who flees to a cabin in Conneticut to try and finish up a play that is due in a week. The show's producer gets worried so he sends the writer's first wife (Genevieve Tobin) to try and help him and before long his second wife (Glenda Farrell) shows up demanding that he be thrown in jail over back alimony. SNOWED UNDER is a pretty far-fetched little comedy but the terrific cast and its fast-pace makes it a real winner and it's really too bad that the film isn't better known because it's a pretty good little gem. I think the strongest thing the film has going in its favor is the terrific cast with Brent, Tobin and Farrell leading the way with their top-notch performances. You've also got Patricia Ellis playing a young woman also in love with the writer, Frank McHugh as a deputy sent to arrest him and John Eldredge and Helen Lowell are also good in their supporting bits. The entire cast works so well together and the dialogue they're having to spill is flying out a mile a minute. The dialogue is delivered in an extremely fast way and the entire cast does well to really push it and make it funny. Some of the best moments deal with the three women constantly fighting amongst each other trying to see why one wants to be with the writer or why they were ever with him. The sequence where the writer decides he wants to go to jail instead of staying in the house was pretty good. The location, a small house in the woods, is the perfect setting and you really do feel as if you're in this place with all these characters as things start to go crazy. Fans of the 30s comedies should really enjoy this and it certainly deserves to be better known.

madcap and extremely loud

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 11 June 2016]

A nice cast, consisting of George Brent, Gladys George, Frank McHugh, Genevieve Tobin, and John Eldredge star in "Snowed Under," a 1936 Warner Brothers film.

Alan Tanner (Brent) has new play opening in a week, but the play has no acceptable third act.

In order to get it done, Tanner goes to a cottage, which at the moment is snowed under to work in peace. Not happening. His blonde neighbor (Patricia Ellis) is crazy about him and shows up.

The play's producer, Arthur Layton (Porter Hall), dispatches Alan's first wife Alice (Tobin) to keep him on task. Unfortunately Alan's second wife, Daisy (Farrell), shows up and demands her alimony.

Soon the women are screaming at one another and fighting over who can help Alan more. And the neighbor wants to know where she stands. Meanwhile Alan can't get any work done.

This is a madcap comedy, and for some reason I found it incredibly loud and a little too crazy, a fun premise, but forced. Despite going over the top, it has a sophistication to it.

Frank McHugh is a scream as a deputy sent to arrest Alan, who just may find some peace if he can only get to jail. With a little more attention, this film would have been much better.

Enjoyable AND a bit stupid!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 6 September 2013]

George Brent has writer's block. While he is very talented, his recent plays have bombed and the old formula is gone. So, his agent arranges for his first wife (Genevieve Tobin) to meet him at his vacation retreat, as she had been his writing partner during his glory days. However, this plan is in serious jeopardy since the second ex-wife (Glenda Farrell) shows up--and she is THRILLED with the idea of messing up anything that he was trying to complete. Add to that his secretary (Patricia Ellis)--a woman who wants to become wife #3 but who is also a major distraction.

"Snowed Under" is a kooky comedy--much of the mold of films like "Palm Beach Story", "My Favorite Wife" and "The Man Who Came to Dinner". However, the quality of the film is a couple steps below these excellent films and this is for a variety of reasons. First, occasionally the acting and writing are a bit too broad and the film tried too hard to make you laugh. While I love Glenda Farrell in most films, here she was just too shrill. Also, a few of the scenes were very, very awkward and poorly constructed--such as the fainting scene near the end of the film. The film simply is too goofy and cleaning up the script a bit would have made a better film. It didn't help that the fake snow never melted and looked really, really fake. Overall, watchable and even occasionally enjoyable...but also lacking the polish and fun you might expect in such a film.

Bundle Up with George Brent

[JLRMovieReviews · 7/10 · 16 February 2012]

Warner Brothers tells this story of a playwright and his many attempts to finish his current play with their usual roster of capable actors, who have all worked together many times before: George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, Frank McHugh, Glenda Farrell, John Eldredge, and Porter Hall. When playwright George is stuck on his third script for the ending, Porter Hall enlists George's first wife, Genevieve Tobin, for inspiration and assistance. He is instantly glad to see her, as he has regretted leaving her for his second wife, Glenda Farrell. Of course they, along with other characters all wind up in his quiet abode. disrupting his work. The stars are charming and work well together, but the chaos, the cornball dialogue and silly predicaments do get a bit tiresome, even though this is only an hour. This movie is sorely missing Kay Francis, and is nowhere as good as The Goose and the Gander, a movie Kay and George made together. But if you want to get snowed under with George Brent and the WB roster of eccentric characters, sit back with hot chocolate and enjoy!

The Snow Job

[boblipton · 6/10 · 10 January 2024]

Porter Hall wants George Brent to write the third act for his play due to open next week. Brent is at his cabin. Hall sends Genevieve Tobin, Brent's first wife, to crack the whip. Second wife Glenda Farrell shows up with deputy Frank McHugh and her lawyer demanding alimony. Patricia Ellis is already in residence, trying to make herself the third wife.

My first reaction was this was an expertly open-up play, but it was written for the screen. It's certainly cast well; Brent, Warner's choice for a leading man who wouldn't distract the audience from the leading lady, is fine as the hectored yet stolid playwright, and the ladies are nicely differentiated, particularly the speed at which they deliver their lines. Miss Tobin is ladylike, Miss Ellis is twittery, and Miss Farrell continues her reign as Warners' resident motormouth. McHugh sometimes sounds like he's attempting a Down East accent. It's perfectly composed, you know how it's going to turn out, and it's a pleasant series of bumps getting there.

Three women on a playwright.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 27 November 2018]

A man can put up with so much mothering, so much alimony hounding and so much puppy love. That's the situation for George Brent who has two ex-wives and an overeager puppy standing over him like three blood hungry mosquitoes. He's a Broadway playwright who is struggling to finish his latest play, causing producer Porter Hall to send first wife Genevieve Tobin out to guide him into finishing. When Tobin knocks at the door, Brent is overjoyed to see her, and it's a rare case of seeing ex-spouses kissing on the spot as if their marriage had never ended. Certainly, he had cheated on her with low class trollop Glenda Farrell, a money hungry cat eager to seek revenge for back alimony she claims Brent owes her. Toss in Patricia Ellis as the barely out of her teens next door neighbor who hides in Brent's bed after he politely kicks her out, and you've got the makings of a screwball comedy filled with plenty of innuendo and a potential of something extremely funny. This type of comedy was overdone quite a bit in the 1930's, although the addition of snow as a major prop (actually nothing more than obviously shredded paper made to look like snow) adds a nice twist.

Indeed, there are some very funny moments, but some issues with the characterizations of two of the women (Tobin and Farrell) come to light. Tobin seems like the perfect, sensible wife, one that any man would be proud to have by his side, but twists in the middle of the film call that into question concerning her character. Farrell is initially a one dimensional trouble maker, but with local deputy Frank McHugh standing by to make sure Brent doesn't try to escape after they are snowed in (having come to arrest him), it becomes apparent that she's not as bad as initially painted. In fact, she gets the best lines, is the one tossed around the most (usually along with McHugh covered in snow that conveniently falls off of the roof at a precarious moment), and ultimately walks off with the film. Ellis plays a petty little nuisance, one that a spanking wouldn't fix, only encourage. At times, the three women together are extremely obnoxious, smothering and irritating Brent to the point where you begin to wonder if he won't just swear women off all together. It's also rather unpleasant to have Tobin's character constantly boasting about needing to "mother" Brent which takes away any sympathy from her and made me not root for any of the women stranded out in this beautiful snowy paradise.

Chic But A Bit Raucous and Broad As It Goes On

[Handlinghandel · 7/10 · 3 December 2003]

This begins as a stylish, sophisticated comedy. George Brent is good as the debonair playwright/playboy who needs a third act for his new play. And Genevieve Tobin is -- throughout -- charming as the first of his ex-wives, who has been called in to help him with this project.

The proceedings get a little too hectic, though. Everyone is good, but the cat fights are raucous and the country bumpkin humor -- the title refers to his country house -- get tired.

Overall, though, definitely recommended for its two leads -- particularly for Ms. Tobin.

Four is actually an exceedingly generous mark!

[JohnHowardReid · 4/10 · 23 April 2018]

Copyright 25 March 1936 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. A First National picture. New York opening at the Strand: 29 March 1936. Australian release: 20 May 1936. 7 reels. 63 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Stuck for a Third Act, a playwright (George Brent), retreats to his country lodge. Unfortunately, his attempts at creative writing are undermined by three unexpected visitors: wives one and two, and a romantic but mentally not over-bright young lady who aspires to become wife number three.

COMMENT: I'd hate to give the impression that all comedies from Hollywood's golden era were gems of wit and sophistication. That's the danger of books that are meant to appeal. Only the good films are usually talked about! But here's a picture that boasts a most promising cast, but what a waste of time this tedious programmer actually turns out to be!

Brent plays a playwright who can't come up with a good Third Act. Screenwriters Herbert and Holmes evidently had the same trouble. Mind you, they couldn't think up a decent First or Second either and thus the movie ends abruptly at the end of two rounds.

True, there are two or three very funny lines ("Have you ever heard of steam-heated snow?") and it's always nice to see sinuous Patricia Ellis. Ever-reliable Frank McHugh and Glenda Farrell also do their best. But Porter Hall seems determined to put over his unfunny lines by shouting at the top of his voice; while Genevieve Tobin, who was so delightfully svelte and sophisticated in Ernst Lubitsch's One Hour With You (1932) in which she played the "other woman" opposite Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier, here mugs away atrociously without a trace of style or even halfway competent panache.

To make matters worse, Enright's flaccid direction is not only thoroughly routine, but allows these noisy hams to run riot.

OTHER VIEWS: Parish and Stanke in The Debonairs write: "Because of its uninspired script, Snowed Under was nothing more than 63 minutes of tedium."

Madcap Movie Of Marital Mishaps

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 5 December 2001]

A frustrated Broadway playwright finds himself SNOWED UNDER in a Connecticut country house with both of his ex-wives, the flirtatious girl next door, a deputy sheriff and a lawyer.

This delightful little comedy is an excellent example of the fluff films that Warner Bros. was so adept at producing during Hollywood's Golden Age. Boasting fine production values, a literate script & some genuinely funny performances, it is a shame that the film is so obscure today.

George Brent & Genevieve Tobin have charm to spare as the protagonists whose divorce seems in danger of floundering; sophisticated & witty, they are a very entertaining duo. Glenda Farrell is hilarious as the boozy floozy after Brent for unpaid alimony - this brassy blonde could always be counted on for some mischievous merriment.

Pixilated Frank McHugh is the milkman turned most unlikely deputy. John Eldredge plays the gentle young lawyer; Patricia Ellis is not gentle at all as the pushy prom princess from next door. Apoplectic producer Porter Hall & sassy housekeeper Helen Lowell add to the amusement.

Movie mavens should recognize Mary Treen as a secretary & Olin Howlin as the sheriff, both uncredited.

triple blonde mayhem

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 12 January 2024]

Alan Tanner (George Brent) is struggling to finish his play which is opening in a week. None of his third acts are acceptable to anyone. He escapes to his remote country home. His neighbor Pat Quinn (Patricia Ellis) has a crush on him. His producer sends his first wife Alice Merritt (Genevieve Tobin) to keep him on track. His second wife Daisy Lowell (Glenda Farrell) arrives with her lawyer McBride and milkman/law enforcement Orlando Rowe looking for her alimony and putting him in jail. Pat crashes the car and they all get snowed in.

This is a light screwball comedy. I wasn't sure about the triple blonde chaos, but it works. Each one has her own personality. They quickly set up the couplings anyways. I would have wanted more time with the six characters in that house. I get the title, but I like "triple blonde mayhem" better. That has more heat.

So-so comedy, impressive cast

[Raflet60 · 5/10 · 19 July 2023]

I always enjoy seeing stars like George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, Glenda Farrell and Frank McHugh so this film seemed quite appealing. The story is so-so, not a laugh riot but kept my interest for the duration. I also like Patricia Ellis who starred in many 30's films. The real reason I wanted to write a review is because there's always been an error in the cast listing. The switchboard operator in the beginning is not Kay Hughes as listed in every reference but actress Carol Hughes who was popular during the 30s and 40s in many films. She was also married to actor Frank Faylen who is know as Ernie the cab driver in "It's a Wonderful Life". Aside from having the same last name I don't know how they were ever confused as they look completely different.

fun farce... stuck in a snowstorm

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 22 March 2022]

In the glorious, happy years in between the "great wars", tanner is a playwrite. But he can't seem to come up with a third act that works. So he heads off to the country house to work. But his cute neighbor won't leave him alone. And the studio has the brilliant idea of convincing tanner's ex-wife to go check on him. Stars george brent, genevieve tobin, glenda farrell. I'm surprised they couldn't fit bette davis in here... she and brent had made so many films together! It's a fun bedroom farce. More farce than bedroom, since we were plunk in the spotlight of the production code. Frank mchugh is along for comedy. Along with the ex wives. Directed by ray enright. Had started with the old pro mack sennett. From a story by lawrence saunders. This one is alot of fun.

Why did I waste an hour on this film?

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 4/10 · 11 December 2022]

Well, the reason I wasted slightly over an hour on this film is because I generally like George Brent. But honestly, this is a pathetic waste of celluloid. Major Bowes Amateur Hour had a better plot! There's a huge difference between a spritely crafted screwball comedy and this hodge podge of ridiculousness. They couldn't even figure out that no one would choose to sleep with an inch of snow on top of them in a gale. This is the kind of movie where I always wonder, 'didn't anyone stop and ask is this making any sense?'.

And then there's the acting. PU. Even George Brent, whose mere demeanor I typically enjoy, seemed to be wandering through the script aimlessly. The only actor I enjoyed here at all was Genevieve Tobin, an actress I'm not familiar with. Glenda Farrell and Patricia Ellis were horrid. And over the years I have become so very sick and tired of Frank McHugh that I could retch when I see him in a film, and he did himself no favors here.

As another of our reviewers said, this seemed like a stage play. It had that closed in feeling.

Seriously, rather than watch this movie, put on a DVD with some greater depth...you know...like the Three Stooges.

Wild comedy features enthusiastic cast

[csteidler · 8/10 · 30 March 2015]

Playwright George Brent is having trouble with his new play. He's got two good acts written but the third act refuses to come. He retires to a quiet house in the country to really concentrate…but his peace and quiet are quickly and completely overrun by wives, lawyers, sheriff's deputies and a big snowstorm.

A lively cast makes this one fun—everyone on the screen is hilarious in one way or another. Genevieve Tobin is charming and clever as Brent's first ex-wife, recruited by Brent's producers as the one person capable of helping break his writer's block. Tobin and Brent are the closest to sane of any characters in this movie.

Glenda Farrell is at her rowdiest as Brent's second ex-wife, showing up with milkman/deputy sheriff Frank McHugh in tow, hoping to collect some alimony. Glenda's initial entrance is just a riot: McHugh has preceded her into the house by a couple of minutes when she bursts in shouting, "Fine way to treat a lady! You gonna let me sit out there in the car all night?" McHugh doesn't miss a beat: "Have you been nipping at my applejack?" Farrell: "All right, so sue me!"

Patricia Ellis is also following Brent around, apparently imagining that she can capture his affections by showing up unexpectedly in his bedroom. Among all of these distractions, it's no wonder Brent isn't getting any work done.

It's not exactly sophisticated but sure has some laughs—lots of fun for fans of silly 30s comedies.