The Perfect Marriage (1947)

Jenny and Dale Williams have been married ten years have a 9-year-old daughter, "Cookie." They live well, have separate careers, are surrounded by sophisticated friends, and are afflicted ... See full summary »

Director:

Lewis Allen

Writers:

Samson Raphaelson (play), Leonard Spigelgass

Stars:

Loretta Young, David Niven, Eddie Albert

Cast

Credited cast:
Loretta Young	...	Maggie Williams
David Niven	...	Dale Williams
Eddie Albert	...	Gil Cummins
Charles Ruggles	...	Dale Williams, Sr.
Virginia Field	...	Gloria
Rita Johnson	...	Mabel Manning
Zasu Pitts	...	Rosa
Nona Griffith	...	Cookie Williams
Nana Bryant	...	Corinne Williams
Jerome Cowan	...	Addison Manning
Luella Gear	...	Dolly Haggerty
Howard Freeman	...	Peter Haggerty
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Martinez	...	Waiter captain

Storyline

Jenny and Dale Williams have been married ten years have a 9-year-old daughter, "Cookie." They live well, have separate careers, are surrounded by sophisticated friends, and are afflicted with overattentive in-laws on each side. Upon the occasion of their 10th anniversary, they tell each other that they want to divorce. They talk about it. They talk to their friends about it. The friends and in-laws talk to them, each other, and anyone else who will listen.

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Plot Keywords:

marital crisis | perfect marriage | husband wife relationship | wedding anniversary | parents daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un matrimonio perfecto

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Wallis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 20, 1949 with Loretta Young reprising her film role.

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Connections

References Penny Serenade (1941)

User Reviews

The plot doesn't make sense

There's a scene early on in The Perfect Marriage in which David Niven and Loretta Young are describing their meet-cute to their nine-year-old daughter, Nona Griffith. It's a ridiculous, unbelievable story, and I wondered if they were making it up to give Nona something outrageous to dream of, like a fairy tale. But no, it was real. They met ten years ago, shown in a flashback, when David Niven's house was on fire, and Loretta and her family were among the friends and neighbors helping haul buckets to put it out. Niven sees her beauty, puts his hose down and approaches her. Suddenly they get in an argument that lasts through the evening. Then, they both can't sleep and coincidentally meet in the kitchen. He grabs a chicken leg and criticizes the way she's playing her solitaire card game. Just as suddenly, they kiss and fall in love.

If that sounds ridiculous to you, you're not going to like this movie. The entire movie doesn't make sense. Niv and Loretta have been married for ten years, yet the fights they have sound like the kinds of fights newlyweds have. They act like they don't know each other at all, and their tactics to make each other jealous or mad are juvenile. Also, their daughter is far from endearing and overacts every line.

As much as I love David Niven, this isn't his best movie. The script is silly at best and irritating at worst. If the plot starred an engaged couple, their fights would have been more believable, but not a pair who've had ten years to get iron out their creases. Plus, I'm not really a Loretta Young fan. Had Myrna Loy been cast in this role, she might have saved the movie. When Loretta's snotty, she comes across as conceited. When Myrna's snotty, she's cute.