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IMDbPro

The More the Merrier

  • 19431943
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,967
14,056
Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
During the World War II housing shortage in Washington, two men and a woman share a single apartment and the older man plays Cupid to the other two.
Play trailer1:12
1 Video
24 Photos
Comedy
During the World War II housing shortage in Washington, two men and a woman share a single apartment and the older man plays Cupid to the other two.During the World War II housing shortage in Washington, two men and a woman share a single apartment and the older man plays Cupid to the other two.During the World War II housing shortage in Washington, two men and a woman share a single apartment and the older man plays Cupid to the other two.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,967
14,056
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writers
      • Robert Russell(screen play)
      • Frank Ross(screen play)
      • Richard Flournoy(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Jean Arthur
      • Joel McCrea
      • Charles Coburn
    Top credits
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writers
      • Robert Russell(screen play)
      • Frank Ross(screen play)
      • Richard Flournoy(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Jean Arthur
      • Joel McCrea
      • Charles Coburn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 78User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:12
    Trailer

    Photos24

    Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
    The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Betzi Beaton, Gladys Blake, Lulu Mae Bohrman, Sally Cairns, Ann Doran, Sugar Geise, Nancy Gray, June Horne, Edna Mae Jones, Kay Linaker, Joel McCrea, Betty McMahon, and Shirley Patterson in The More the Merrier (1943)
    Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean Arthur
    Jean Arthur
    • Connie Milligan
    Joel McCrea
    Joel McCrea
    • Joe Carter
    Charles Coburn
    Charles Coburn
    • Benjamin Dingle
    Richard Gaines
    Richard Gaines
    • Charles J. Pendergast
    Bruce Bennett
    Bruce Bennett
    • FBI Agent Evans
    Frank Sully
    Frank Sully
    • FBI Agent Pike
    Donald Douglas
    Donald Douglas
    • FBI Agent Harding
    • (as Don Douglas)
    Clyde Fillmore
    Clyde Fillmore
    • Senator Noonan
    Stanley Clements
    Stanley Clements
    • Morton Rodakiewicz
    David Alison
    • Man in Alley
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Ash
    Sam Ash
    • Committee Member
    • (uncredited)
    Don Barclay
    Don Barclay
    • Drunk
    • (uncredited)
    Brandon Beach
    • Shaving Gag
    • (uncredited)
    Betzi Beaton
    Betzi Beaton
    • Miss Finch
    • (uncredited)
    Hank Bell
    Hank Bell
    • Singing Man on Apartment Stairway
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Biby
    Edward Biby
    • Committee Member
    • (uncredited)
    Gladys Blake
    Gladys Blake
    • Barmaid
    • (uncredited)
    Lulu Mae Bohrman
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writers
      • Robert Russell(screen play) (story)
      • Frank Ross(screen play) (story)
      • Richard Flournoy(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the hotel restaurant/lounge, the band playing in the background is, as would not be unexpected, all-female. Also, some of the couples dancing are girl/girl, as there were not enough men to go around; "eight gals for every fella" as Ben Dingle said. So of course, when Connie Milligan is called away to the phone, Joe is surrounded by exactly eight young women.
    • Goofs
      After Joe gives Connie the travel bag and prepares to leave, she asks if he is going back to California. He replies, "No, Africa." The audio has been dubbed, as he clearly is not saying "Africa". He apparently is saying "Japan".
    • Quotes

      Connie Milligan: You've been shushing me for 22 months now. You've shushed your last shush!

    • Connections
      Featured in George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      The Torpedo Song
      (1943)

      (Published as "Damn the Torpedos - Full Speed Ahead")

      Music by Jay Gorney

      Lyrics by Henry Myers and Edward Eliscu

      Recited often by Charles Coburn (uncredited)

      Sung by Coburn and other members of the Committee at the end

    User reviews78

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A classic war romantic comedy
    This film showed how crowded our nation's capital was during the war. Everyone was there trying to sell their ideas or find ways to improve our war effort. Due to this overcrowding, citizens of Washington DC were asked to be hospitable and let people stay with them. This is where this film gets the idea for this confusing, frustrating and romantic tale.

    Picture pretty little Connie(Jean Arthur) living in the fair city of Washington DC. A hard working girl who lives in an apartment by herself. To be patriotic, she decides to rent out her other bedroom. She didn't figure her future roomie would be a male. Now picture Mr. Dingle(Charles Coburn) is a big wig who has come to town to meet with Washington's big wigs. Good golly, his hotel room has been given away and he can not find another place to stay. Guess where he ends up?? Poor Connie.

    Now picture young handsome Joseph Carter. Coming to town to show his ideas to improve our flying fleet. He can't find a place either. He runs into our friend Mr. Dingle. Mr. Dingle has a grand idea. Now guess where he is going to stay. Poor poor Connie.

    Our dear Connie has a boyfriend who she has been dating, FOREVER!! A Mr. Charles J Pendergast(Richard Gaines). Stuffy, by-the-book, close minded bore. Oh my, he won't like this situation one bit. Poor, poor,...well you get the idea.

    This film is a scream. A great script, great direction, and great acting. A great look back into life during the war and wonderful romantic story. Not to mention Jean Arthur's and Charles Coburn's best performances ever.

    A classic romantic comedy. You just have to see this!!!
    helpful•35
    2
    • timmauk
    • Jun 19, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 13, 1943 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Merry-Go-Round
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, and Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier (1943)
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