Without Love (1945)

Director:

Harold S. Bucquet

Writers:

Philip Barry (play)
Donald Ogden Stewart (writer)

Release Date:

May 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The story of a KISSLESS BRIDE...and the man who WALKED IN HIS SLEEP!

Plot:

In World War II Washington DC, scientist Pat Jamieson's assistant, Jamie Rowan, enters a loveless marriage with him...

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Love | Amnesia | Male Female Relationship | Drunkard

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

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The poem that Katharine Hepburn's character recites while riding in the horse buggy with Paul (Carl Esmond's character) is Sir William Watson's "Song" (1897). Ms. Hepburn's character, however, misquotes the line from the poem. She says, "April, April, with her girlish laughter." The lines she is quoting actually appear in the poem as, "April, April, / Laugh thy girlish laughter."

Goofs:

Continuity: As Jamie is looking at herself in the pressure chamber glass door with the breathing equipment on, her reflection in the glass doesn't match her movements.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Easy to love

Dry romantic material given substance and strength by its stars...

Philip Barry's play about a scientist/inventor who rooms with a widow during the war might've fallen flat with a less-experienced cast; it is middling material, weighted with palaver, not even offering anything in the way of surprises. However, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn are well-attuned to these characters (and to each other) and make the most of it. Tracy is talked into a platonic marriage with Kate, but eventually feels the pangs of real romance. The play's stagy action is opened-up expertly for the screen, with talky scenes nicely balanced by lively set-pieces (such as the train-sequence, the best moment in the film). The colorful supporting cast, including Gloria Grahame (in a bit part) and Keenan Wynn, perform with aplomb, plowing right through the contrivances. As Kate's girlfriend, Lucille Ball gives one of her best performances, and she has a classic retort to Spencer Tracy who commands his dog to lie down (Ball to Tracy: "Who, me?"). Not a perfect showcase for the leads, but very pleasant nonetheless. *** from ****