Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Merrily We Live

  • 1938
  • Passed
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
Dizzy society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest find is a handsome "tramp" who shows up at her doorstep and soon ends up in a chauffeur's uniform. He also catches the eye of her pretty Geraldine.
Play trailer2:15
1 Video
95 Photos
ComedyMusicRomance

Dizzy society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest find is a handsome "tramp" who shows up at her doorstep and soon ends up in a chauffeur's... Read allDizzy society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest find is a handsome "tramp" who shows up at her doorstep and soon ends up in a chauffeur's uniform. He also catches the eye of her pretty Geraldine.Dizzy society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest find is a handsome "tramp" who shows up at her doorstep and soon ends up in a chauffeur's uniform. He also catches the eye of her pretty Geraldine.

  • Director
    • Norman Z. McLeod
  • Writers
    • Eddie Moran
    • Jack Jevne
    • E.J. Rath
  • Stars
    • Constance Bennett
    • Brian Aherne
    • Alan Mowbray
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Norman Z. McLeod
    • Writers
      • Eddie Moran
      • Jack Jevne
      • E.J. Rath
    • Stars
      • Constance Bennett
      • Brian Aherne
      • Alan Mowbray
    • 61User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 Oscars
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Blu-ray Trailer
    Trailer 2:15
    Watch Blu-ray Trailer

    Photos95

    Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Tom Brown, Bonita Granville, and Clarence Kolb in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Billie Burke in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Constance Bennett, Bonita Granville, and Clarence Kolb in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Constance Bennett and Clarence Kolb in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Constance Bennett, Bonita Granville, and Alan Mowbray in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Constance Bennett
    Constance Bennett
    • Jerry Kilbourne
    Brian Aherne
    Brian Aherne
    • Wade Rawlins
    Alan Mowbray
    Alan Mowbray
    • Grosvenor (butler)
    Billie Burke
    Billie Burke
    • Mrs. Kilbourne
    Patsy Kelly
    Patsy Kelly
    • Etta
    Ann Dvorak
    Ann Dvorak
    • Minerva Harlan
    Tom Brown
    Tom Brown
    • Kane Kilbourne
    Clarence Kolb
    Clarence Kolb
    • Mr. Kilbourne
    Bonita Granville
    Bonita Granville
    • Marion Kilbourne
    Marjorie Rambeau
    Marjorie Rambeau
    • Mrs. Harlan
    Phillip Reed
    Phillip Reed
    • Herbert Wheeler
    Willie Best
    Willie Best
    • George
    Sidney Bracey
    Sidney Bracey
    • 2nd Butler
    Paul Everton
    Paul Everton
    • Senator Harlan
    Marjorie Kane
    Marjorie Kane
    • Rosa
    Wilma Cox
    • Mrs. Remington
    • (uncredited)
    Sarah Edwards
    Sarah Edwards
    • Mrs. Fleming
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Flaherty
    Pat Flaherty
    • Pat - Police Officer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Norman Z. McLeod
    • Writers
      • Eddie Moran
      • Jack Jevne
      • E.J. Rath(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Young in Heart
    7.3
    The Young in Heart
    Topper
    7.2
    Topper
    Topper Takes a Trip
    6.5
    Topper Takes a Trip
    Double Wedding
    6.9
    Double Wedding
    The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
    7.0
    The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
    The Devil and Miss Jones
    7.6
    The Devil and Miss Jones
    Bachelor Mother
    7.5
    Bachelor Mother
    Escuela de vagabundos
    8.1
    Escuela de vagabundos
    Mad About Music
    7.1
    Mad About Music
    Twentieth Century
    7.3
    Twentieth Century
    The More the Merrier
    7.6
    The More the Merrier
    Three Comrades
    7.1
    Three Comrades

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Alan Mowbray, Billie Burke, and Constance Bennett had worked on director Norman Z. McLeod's previous film, Topper (1937). The commercial and critical success of Topper played a large role in their inclusion in this film.
    • Goofs
      When Jerry and Marian are rushing down the stairs near the beginning, a shadow of the boom microphone is visible on the wall to the left.
    • Quotes

      Marian Kilbourne: [Introducing the two Great Danes] How do you do? I'd like you to meet my dogs. This dog's name is "Get Off The Rug." His name is "You, Too!"

    • Crazy credits
      Behind the opening credits, the cast walks arm in arm up the driveway towards the camera.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 56th Annual Academy Awards (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Merrily We Live
      (1938)

      Music by Phil Charig

      Lyrics by Arthur Quenzer

      Sung by an offscreen chorus during the opening and closing credits

    User reviews61

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    pleasant surprise
    Considering the obscurity of this film, it's a big surprise to see how well made, visually rich and entertaining it is, despite, as others have noted, its unoriginal premise. The dialogue is frequently funny but not up to the standard of MY MAN GODFREY - too much of the eccentricity seems to be forced and a bit cutesy but the cast overcomes all. Clarence Kolb steals the film with his masterful slapstick but he's first rate whether playing stern-and- sober, falling-down drunk or warmly empathetic. Though Billie Burke was Oscar nominated as the ditzy society matron mother, her performance here is no better than it was the year before in TOPPER or five years before in DINNER AT EIGHT (now THAT was an award-worthy turn!). Perhaps because this particular role was as over-the-top ditzy as such roles get, Hollywood decided it was time to honor it. What a splendid cast: Constance Bennett in fine form; Brian Aherne at his best - called upon to be elegant, dashing and charming, he accomplishes all three. Cary Grant would have given the character more oomph, but Aherne's reserve works here. Then we have the inimitable Patsy Kelly as a kitchen maid, the underused Ann Dvorak as a predatory Senator's daughter who lusts after Aherne, Bonita Granville as a wild, irrepresible teenage daughter, and last but not least Alan Mobray as the snooty butler being undermined by one indignity after another; his double takes are hilarious. Near the beginning there is an accomplished scene in which Aherne's wheezing jalopy rolls for what seems like a mile down a mountainside until it's totalled: no editing tricks here. Being a Hal Roach film there are of course generous helpings of slapstick, but they're brilliantly staged and expertly carried out by actors who are also capable of delivering deft overall performances. Every actor has at least one extended scene of well staged physical comedy. The opening credits are fun and welcoming: the whole cast is walking through the gates of the property with arms linked, singing the swingy title song. So, even though the concept of this film is derivative, its execution is fresh and alive.
    helpful•28
    2
    • mukava991
    • Jul 15, 2007

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 4, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dark Chapter
    • Filming locations
      • Riviera Country Club - 1250 Capri Drive, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, USA(golfing scene)
    • Production company
      • Hal Roach Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for Merrily We Live (1938)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.