Made for Each Other (1939)

While on a business trip, an ambitious young lawyer meets and immediately falls in love with a stranger. They wed the following day, and tragedy soon strikes.

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Jo Swerling (screenplay), Rose Franken (suggested by a story by)

Stars:

Carole Lombard, James Stewart, Charles Coburn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Carole Lombard	...	Jane Mason
James Stewart	...	John Horace Mason
Charles Coburn	...	Judge Joseph M. Doolittle
Lucile Watson	...	Mrs. Harriet Mason
Eddie Quillan	...	Conway
Alma Kruger	...	Sister Madeline

Storyline

Young lawyer meets and marries girl after knowing her one day. Takes bride home to meet his mother who disapproves of the marriage. Lawyer thinks everything will be fine as he moves up the ladder of the law firm. He doesn't and things get tough. A baby makes things even tougher.

---

Plot Keywords:

pneumonia | blizzard | serum | mother in law | manhattan new york city | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

A clip of this movie is used in Foreigner's music video, "I Don't Want To Live Without You".

---

Goofs

Around minute 29, Jane Mason asks her Doctor's nurse for a paper and envelope. Nurse gives only a sheet of paper - no envelope. Jane writes a love note, attaches a safety pin then folds the note into thirds. She stands, picks up the note and her purse and leaves. Late represents an envelope to John Mason in the courtroom.

---

Quotes

Jane: You're worth your weight in gold!
Lily, Cook #3: [chuckles] That's a lot of gold.

---

Crazy Credits

Opening credits start with hands signing "Carole Lombard" and "James Stewart" to a marriage license.

---

Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988)

---

Soundtracks

Happy Birthday to You
(1893) (uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill
Sung a cappella by the office workers with modified lyrics

User Reviews

Classic but dated melodrama with an exceptional couple , James Stewart and Carole Lombard

Interesting and thought-provoking drama with some touches of humor about newlyweds , their problems , distresses , overdue and poverty . This weeper movie turns out to be a simplistic tale , however provides an enjoyable time . Nostalgic and sensitive picture with brooding drama , adequate cinematography and evocative musical score . Well thought movie in which the couple's big dreams give way to a life full of unexpected sadness and unexpected joy . The picture begins with the followings lines : Greater New York has a population of 7.434.346 , among the least important of whom is John Mason (James Stewart) and Jane (Carole Lombard) . They fall in love and marry ; when John and Jane try to go on their honeymoon in Europe aboard the liner SS Normadie , their journey is suddenly interrupted . Then they must overcome meddlesome in-laws (Lucile Watson) , proud chiefs (Charles Coburn) , poorness and even the arrival a baby . Things become so serious , they decide to separate but their child's illness brings together for a second chance .

Sensitive film which deals with interesting issues such as family life , couple relationship , meddling mother-in-law , birth a son , and many other things . The story is plain and simple , nonetheless results to be a moving experience . It is a tearjerker about an agreeable couple who looks rather stiff and maudlin nowadays . This over-expended weepie flick relies heavily on the relationship between James Stewart and Carole Lombard but this does not get bored or spoils the tale . Slightly overrated but excellent all the same time , the picture is enjoyable and entertaining , including a stirring ending . Great producer David O. Selznick's experience of trying to have life-saving serum flown in for his critically ill brother was the basis for the flying sequences final the movie . The story is narrated with great sense and sensibility , the intelligent screenplay was written by Jo Swerling suggested by a story by Rose Franken . Sensational protagonist duo , James Stewart is extraordinary , as usual , and Carole Lombard is magnificent . They don't make'em like this anymore and no one plays Stewart better than Stewart . Only these big stars like Stewart and Lombard could play material like this . Support cast is frankly excellent such as Charles Coburn as Judge Doolittle , Lucile Watson as Mrs. Harriet Mason , Eddie Quillan as Conway , Harry Davenport as Dr. Healy , and uncredited War Bond as Hatton , among others.

Atmospheric cinematography in black and White by Leon Shamroy , subsequently a famed cameraman of super-productions , though also available colorized . The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely and usually badly edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second or third-generation or more copies of the film . Pleasant as well as adequate musical score by Oscar Levant , though uncredited . This stunning and appealing flick filmed in great sensibility was compellingly directed by John Cromwell , considered to be one of the best American directors . Cromwell was a veteran filmmaker who directed all kind of genres through a long career from the 20s and 30s to the 60s such as Adventure genre : ¨Son of fury¨, ¨Prisoner of Zenda¨ , ¨Tom Sawyer ¨ , ¨Ana and the King of Siam¨ ; Thriller and Noir cinema : ¨The Scavengers¨ , ¨The racket¨, ¨Dead reckoning¨, ¨Algiers¨, ¨Vice squad¨ and especially drama as ¨The Goddess¨, ¨Spitfire¨ , ¨Ann Vickers¨ , ¨Dance of life¨, ¨Of human bondage¨ , the notorious ¨Abe Lincoln in Illinois¨ and this ¨Made for each other¨.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Made for Each Other

Filming Locations:

Reuss Ranch, Malibu Lake, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Selznick International Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1