This is a wonderfully wacky comedy romance with a first-rate cast. But, if ever there was a comedy film made at the wrong time, this is it. Although its U.S. box office was nearly $3 million, "They All Kissed the Bride" was way down the list for 1942, at 100th place in ticket sales. Ahead of it was a plethora of films in all genres from adventures to Westerns. Even a Sci-Fi horror film finished the year higher ("Cat People").
When this film appeared in theaters in June of 1942, the U.S. was six months into World War II, and much of the rest of the world had been at war for nearly three years. War and related films were naturally of great interest to civilians and those on the home fronts. But of equal interest were comedies and musicals that entertained and gave respite from the worries of war. The top box office film for the year was Walt Disney's "Bambi," at $18 million. Right behind it is the big Academy Award winning picture of the year, "Mrs. Miniver," that won six Oscars out of 12 nominations. Many outstanding musicals, comedies and war films followed in a year of many very good films.
So, why did this very witty, clever, funny and superbly acted comedy romance not fare much better than it did? The only logical explanation is the plot. The story of "They All Kissed the Bride" centers around a hard-boiled woman boss of a business, and an author who is writing about big businesses and the common workers they employ. In the middle of a world war, with almost no unemployment and everyone rallying for the cause, businesses and worker disputes were the furthest things from anyone's mind. So, funny or not, the plot wasn't a big lure for attendance. And, the only slight reference to there even being a war on is toward the end concerning a government war contract for a mill.
But, the good news is that this film's plot is not outdated, and without the worries of that time, modern audiences can now watch it and relish the wonderful humor. The only fault I find with the film is its title. The title refers to a single early scene of a reception line after a wedding in which guests give the bride a kiss and shake hands with the groom. That has little to nothing to do with the gist of the movie. "The Writer and the Female Tycoon," would have been a better title.
Besides the wonderful barbs and witticisms in the dialog, this film has some very funny antics and scenarios. There's a recurring issue of the Drew women supposedly having a liver problem. The symptoms are knees giving out and their getting shaky and light headed around men they are attracted to. Another is when the leads have reverse evenings when one falls asleep on the other and then wakes up in the morning in the other's bed and some sort of sleepwear. These are riotously funny. Joan Crawford gets a tremendous workout in a hilarious frenetic dance scene with Alan Jenkins. A number of funny scenes involve "spotters" (trucking company "police") nabbing Jenkins for company violations.
I noticed one frequent reviewer called this film a "domestic" take on the 1939 comedy satire, "Ninotchka." But, how anyone can compare the plot of this film with that of "Ninotchka" is beyond me. The only resemblance in the two films is in their male lead - Melvyn Douglas.
Anyway, "They All Kissed the Bride" is a very funny and entertaining film. Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas make the perfect sparring characters who fall for each other. It would have been nice to see Carol Lombard in the lead female role, as originally planned before her untimely death in an aircraft crash while promoting American war bonds. But, Crawford does very well in the role of Margaret J. (aka, Maggie, aka, "M.J.") Drew. A very good supporting cast has some well-known leading and supporting actors of the day - some with meaty roles. Allan Jenkins is Johnny Johnson, Roland Young is Marsh, and Billie Burke is Mrs. Drew. Others add to much of the humor
Crawford and Douglas were paired in four films, of which this is their only comedy. Comedy was a forte of the talented Douglas, but it was not so for Crawford. She was best at drama and mysteries. But of the several comedies Crawford was in, two are superb. This is one of those and the other is "Love on the Run" of 1936, in which the bulk of the humor is provided by Clark Gable and Franchot Tone.
After watching several Melvyn Douglas comedies, I've noticed a nuance about them. All of his characters in these films are eating something in rather long scenes. Here it's hotdogs. In "He Stayed for Breakfast" of 1940, it was chicken and steaks. In "Ninotchka" of 1939, it was lunch with Greta Garbo. And in "Good Girls Go to Paris" of that same year, it was tea and toast.
Here are a few big laugh lines in the film.
Vivian Drew: I had a flat tire. Margaret Drew: You've got a flat head. Mrs. Drew: That's not true, Margaret. None of the Drews were flat-headed, except Uncle Ellereth.
Michael Holmes: M.J.? You're her? Margaret Drew: Yes, the old bag, that tire character.
Margaret Drew: Why don't you do something about that glandular condition of yours?
Michael Holmes: Are you sure when Margaret was born they didn't make a mistake at the hospital and give you the wrong brat? Michael Holmes: Shall I open the door? Margaret Drew: No, the door's too far away.
Margaret Drew: Are you a man or aren't you? Marsh: Well, my birth certificate says male - I hope I won't have reason to regret it.
When this film appeared in theaters in June of 1942, the U.S. was six months into World War II, and much of the rest of the world had been at war for nearly three years. War and related films were naturally of great interest to civilians and those on the home fronts. But of equal interest were comedies and musicals that entertained and gave respite from the worries of war. The top box office film for the year was Walt Disney's "Bambi," at $18 million. Right behind it is the big Academy Award winning picture of the year, "Mrs. Miniver," that won six Oscars out of 12 nominations. Many outstanding musicals, comedies and war films followed in a year of many very good films.
So, why did this very witty, clever, funny and superbly acted comedy romance not fare much better than it did? The only logical explanation is the plot. The story of "They All Kissed the Bride" centers around a hard-boiled woman boss of a business, and an author who is writing about big businesses and the common workers they employ. In the middle of a world war, with almost no unemployment and everyone rallying for the cause, businesses and worker disputes were the furthest things from anyone's mind. So, funny or not, the plot wasn't a big lure for attendance. And, the only slight reference to there even being a war on is toward the end concerning a government war contract for a mill.
But, the good news is that this film's plot is not outdated, and without the worries of that time, modern audiences can now watch it and relish the wonderful humor. The only fault I find with the film is its title. The title refers to a single early scene of a reception line after a wedding in which guests give the bride a kiss and shake hands with the groom. That has little to nothing to do with the gist of the movie. "The Writer and the Female Tycoon," would have been a better title.
Besides the wonderful barbs and witticisms in the dialog, this film has some very funny antics and scenarios. There's a recurring issue of the Drew women supposedly having a liver problem. The symptoms are knees giving out and their getting shaky and light headed around men they are attracted to. Another is when the leads have reverse evenings when one falls asleep on the other and then wakes up in the morning in the other's bed and some sort of sleepwear. These are riotously funny. Joan Crawford gets a tremendous workout in a hilarious frenetic dance scene with Alan Jenkins. A number of funny scenes involve "spotters" (trucking company "police") nabbing Jenkins for company violations.
I noticed one frequent reviewer called this film a "domestic" take on the 1939 comedy satire, "Ninotchka." But, how anyone can compare the plot of this film with that of "Ninotchka" is beyond me. The only resemblance in the two films is in their male lead - Melvyn Douglas.
Anyway, "They All Kissed the Bride" is a very funny and entertaining film. Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas make the perfect sparring characters who fall for each other. It would have been nice to see Carol Lombard in the lead female role, as originally planned before her untimely death in an aircraft crash while promoting American war bonds. But, Crawford does very well in the role of Margaret J. (aka, Maggie, aka, "M.J.") Drew. A very good supporting cast has some well-known leading and supporting actors of the day - some with meaty roles. Allan Jenkins is Johnny Johnson, Roland Young is Marsh, and Billie Burke is Mrs. Drew. Others add to much of the humor
Crawford and Douglas were paired in four films, of which this is their only comedy. Comedy was a forte of the talented Douglas, but it was not so for Crawford. She was best at drama and mysteries. But of the several comedies Crawford was in, two are superb. This is one of those and the other is "Love on the Run" of 1936, in which the bulk of the humor is provided by Clark Gable and Franchot Tone.
After watching several Melvyn Douglas comedies, I've noticed a nuance about them. All of his characters in these films are eating something in rather long scenes. Here it's hotdogs. In "He Stayed for Breakfast" of 1940, it was chicken and steaks. In "Ninotchka" of 1939, it was lunch with Greta Garbo. And in "Good Girls Go to Paris" of that same year, it was tea and toast.
Here are a few big laugh lines in the film.
Vivian Drew: I had a flat tire. Margaret Drew: You've got a flat head. Mrs. Drew: That's not true, Margaret. None of the Drews were flat-headed, except Uncle Ellereth.
Michael Holmes: M.J.? You're her? Margaret Drew: Yes, the old bag, that tire character.
Margaret Drew: Why don't you do something about that glandular condition of yours?
Michael Holmes: Are you sure when Margaret was born they didn't make a mistake at the hospital and give you the wrong brat? Michael Holmes: Shall I open the door? Margaret Drew: No, the door's too far away.
Margaret Drew: Are you a man or aren't you? Marsh: Well, my birth certificate says male - I hope I won't have reason to regret it.