Love Crazy (1941)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Jack Conway

Writers:

David Hertz (story) and
William Ludwig (story) ...

Release Date:

23 May 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

From blissful kisses to sizzling hisses, they're Mr. and Mrs. again!

Plot:

Steve and Susan Ireland are about to celebrate their 4th wedding anniversary by re-enacting their first date...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Wedding Anniversary | Marriage | Eccentric | Police

Cast

William Powell	...	Stephen 'Steve' / 'Stevie' Ireland
Myrna Loy	...	Susan Ireland
Gail Patrick	...	Isobel Kimble Grayson
Jack Carson	...	Ward Willoughby
Florence Bates	...	Mrs. Cooper
Sidney Blackmer	...	Lawyer George Renny
Sig Ruman	...	Doctor Wuthering (as Sig Rumann)
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Dr. David Klugle
Donald MacBride	...	'Pinky' Grayson
Sara Haden	...	Miss Cecilia Landis
Kathleen Lockhart	...	Mrs. Bristol
Fern Emmett	...	Martha, Ireland's Maid
Joseph Crehan	...	Judge
George Meeker	...	Lawyer DeWest
Clarence Muse	...	Robert, Hat Check Man at Party

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #7278) | Australia:PG

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

William Powell had a mustache for the entire length of his career, but shaved it off when dressed as a woman.

Quotes:

Steve: The silk ones are happy; they are free. The felt ones are dead.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hollywood Remembers: Myrna Loy - So Nice to Come Home to (1991) (TV)

Soundtrack:

It's Delightful to Be Married

One of the Best of the Team of Powell and Loy

Frankly, I just recently discovered this team, besides seeing part of The Thin Man years ago (prior to my interest in classics). TCM played a run of their movies recently (Double Wedding, I Love You Again, Love Crazy).

Of the many comedy teams, I truly like Powell and Loy the best now from all of film history (Close second in modern films is Adam Sandler and Drew Barrimore). It's a case of two people so well in sync; the performances mesh so smoothly in every moment, it becomes real. The perfect rhythms aren't real life, but the way real life should be in marriage.

Possibly its their brand of humor, and certainly the writing makes a difference, but Powell is such a consummate comedian when given any kind of chance (compare My Man Godfrey, passable with Carole Lombard the screwball, where Powell is great to watch even though the script constrains his talent).

Myrna Loy is so brilliant at being funny, intelligent, independent and genuinely loving all at once. Her characters with Powell are dream wives. Like the documentary on her, "So Nice To Come Home To"--could not be stated more perfectly.

Powell's drag performance stunned me. Several more modern examples, which I thought of as definitive, suddenly aren't so original and certainly no better. I would put his acting equal to or better than Tootsie or Mrs. Doubtfire. My opinion of his acting talent leaped another plateau.

Regardless of its faults mentioned elsewhere, this is the one of the best Powell-Loy pair ups. Loy has a bit less to do, but it would not be worth seeing without her. The supporting cast is sometimes cliché, but they are perfect at it. (And the portrayal of the mental health "professionals" seems madcap and again cliché, but is a bit uncomfortable being so near truth. What happens to Powell is still legal and happens today to sane people that don't fit the norm).

If you like feeling good and watching excellent performances, and having a few belly laughs to boot, don't miss this one.