Without Love (1945)

In World War II Washington DC, Jamie Rowan, enters a loveless marriage with scientist Pat Jamieson and becomes his assistant. Struggles bring them closer together.

Director:

Harold S. Bucquet

Writers:

Philip Barry (based on the play by), Donald Ogden Stewart

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Spencer Tracy	...	Pat Jamieson
Katharine Hepburn	...	Jamie Rowan
Lucille Ball	...	Kitty Trimble
Keenan Wynn	...	Quentin Ladd
Carl Esmond	...	Paul Carrell
Patricia Morison	...	Edwina Collins
Felix Bressart	...	Prof. Ginza
Emily Massey	...	Anna
Gloria Grahame	...	Flower Girl
George Davis	...	Caretaker
George Chandler	...	Elevator Boy
Clancy Cooper	...	Sergeant

Storyline

In WWII Pat Jamieson is a scientist working, with Government support, on a high-altitude oxygen mask for fighter pilots. But he has nowhere to conduct his research in secret until he meets Jamie Rowan, a woman with an unused house with a scientist's basement. Jamie has no hopes of marrying for love (and neither does Pat) but Jamie wants to help the war effort and she likes this quirky scientist and his dog, so to satisfy the proprieties they agree on a business arrangement: a marriage of convenience and partnership. They happily work on oxygen mixes instead of honeymooning. But as the footing of their relationship begins warm up, Jamie is courted by another man and the old flame that broke Pat's heart is back in his life. It will take a sleepwalking ruse, dodging in and out of doors, and a working oxygen mask to get them together again.

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Plot Keywords:

taming of the shrew | male male relationship | manipulative female | female jealousy | female sexual predator | 

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Taglines:

M-G-M's Star-Hit !

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sin amor

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,873,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was a success at the box office for MGM, earning a profit of $619,000 ($8.4M in 2017) according to studio records.

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Goofs

Just prior to Pat Jamieson blacking out in the test of his oxygen mask, he says, "Jamie. Jamie." The next line, "We made it," was dubbed in later - his lips don't move.

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Quotes

Jamie Rowan: You never want love in your life again and I never want it in mine. But our reasons are as different as the sun is from the moon. You don't want it because you've had all the worst of it. I don't want it because I've had all the best.

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Connections

Featured in That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)

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Soundtracks

Easy To Love
(uncredited)
Music by Cole Porter
Played by the orchestra in the hotel room

User Reviews

Lesser known Tracy-Hepburn vehicle by Philip Barry...

WITHOUT LOVE is such an uneven film--some of it is quite inspired--but it's safe to say that there are a few scenes that make it worth watching even if it is a bit overlong in getting to its inevitable conclusion. Hepburn and Tracy are at their most polished as romantic partners. The subplot is handled with skill by Lucille Ball and Keenan Wynn (who does a great drunken bit) and fans of Tracy and Hepburn won't be disappointed in their handling of rather unusual roles.

Hepburn has never been one of my particular favorites--I find her mannerisms are a turn-off by the time any film starring her has gone beyond fifteen minutes--but here she is actually showing a warmth, tenderness and vulnerability that she seldom really showed in any of her more well-known comedy roles. And Tracy is so natural, you forget he is just acting.

The plot has two unlikely people who have given up love for opposite reasons actually finding out that they truly do love each other--but not until the last reel. All of their scenes are enhanced by the added device of having a dog who looks just like Toto (from the 'Wizard of Oz') steal many a scene. For added measure, Lucille Ball pops up in a brief but delightful supporting role opposite Keenan Wynn.

Hepburn is more appealing here than she was as the stuck-up heroine of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY and the story, although predictable, has some very unusual touches that make it well worth watching, especially if you're fans of Hepburn or Tracy.

Patricia Morison has a thankless supporting role and Gloria Grahame has a brief bit as a flower girl allergic to flowers in a nightclub scene.