Merrily We Live (1938)

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Eddie Moran (screenplay) and
Jack Jevne (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 March 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Dizzy society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest...

Plot Keywords:

Servant | Tramp | Chauffeur | Hobo | Love

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars.

Cast

Constance Bennett	...	Jerry Kilbourne
Brian Aherne	...	E. Wade Rawlins
Alan Mowbray	...	Grosvenor - the Butler
Billie Burke	...	Mrs. Emily Kilbourne
Patsy Kelly	...	Etta
Ann Dvorak	...	Minerva Harlan
Tom Brown	...	Kane Kilbourne
Clarence Kolb	...	Henry Kilbourne
Bonita Granville	...	Marian Kilbourne
Marjorie Rambeau	...	Mrs. Harlan
Phillip Reed	...	Herbert Wheeler
Willie Best	...	George W. Jones
Sidney Bracey	...	Second Butler
Paul Everton	...	Senator Willie Harlan
Marjorie Kane	...	Rosa

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4033) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Arrowhead Hot Spring, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

Although not credited onscreen or noted by reviewers or the SAB, this film is so similar to What a Man (1930) (same plot and even many of the same character names) that the source of the screenplay must surely be the same for both films. Both the 1924 novel "The Dark Chapter; a Comedy of Class Distinctions" by E.J. Rath and the play "They All Want Something" has been added to the writers section. The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 12 October 1926 and closed in December 1926 after 62 performances.

Quotes:

Mrs. Emily Kilbourne: Do you drive a car?
Wade Rawlins: Well, I did.
Mrs. Emily Kilbourne: Oh, but that's wonderful! Ambrose was such a poor driver, they tell me.
Marian Kilbourne: Mother, if you're thinking of asking this... this...!
Mrs. Emily Kilbourne: My mother always told me that children should be seen and not heard.
Marian Kilbourne: Yes, but your mother was smarter than my mother.

Movie Connections:

Version of What a Man (1930)

Soundtrack:

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Boys Are Marching)

Very, very derivative BUT enjoyable!

This is hardly an original film, as it was apparently a variation on the 1930 film WHAT A MAN. Plus, it's amazingly similar to the 1936 hit film, MY MAN GODFREY. However, despite being so unoriginal, the overall film is amazingly watchable and a lot of fun.

Like in GODFREY, the rich family that is the focus of the film is amazingly ditsy and....well, nuts! Unlike GODFREY, most of the insanity is concentrated into the mother (played by Billie Burke)--though as the film progresses, you come to realize they're all touched! As for Burke, her stupid schtick wears thin at the beginning of the film (making you wonder why the other family members haven't killed her). But, fortunately, as the film continues, she is given such wonderful lines of dialog that I really am glad they didn't kill her. Additionally, the rest of the family's dialog was great as well--showing that the writers were really hitting their mark.

The film is about Burke's bizarre habit of bringing home hobos to rehabilitate them, though in many ways they were treated more like pets or toys than people. The rest of the family is sick of this because the hobos are usually thieves or opportunists, so it's no wonder that when Brian Aherne is taken in by Burke that the rest of the family is angry and wants Aherne to go. However, what's really strange is that although Aherne is dressed like a bum, he never WANTS to be saved by Burke and he more or less becomes a part of the family against his will! As the film progresses, like Godfrey, Aherne is obviously more than just a man down on his luck--leading to a dandy conclusion.

The film has excellent and well-paced direction, wonderful writing and an excellent ensemble cast. It is actually quite surprising that this film isn't more well-known, as it's one of the better comedies of the 1930s.