Four's a Crowd

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For the Spanish film, see Four's a Crowd (2022 film).

Four's a Crowd
Heinz Eric Roemheld
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • August 4, 1938 (1938-08-04) (U.S.)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Four's a Crowd is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell and Patric Knowles. The picture was written by Casey Robinson and Sig Herzig from a story by Wallace Sullivan. This was the fourth of nine films in which Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland appeared.[1]

Plot

Reporter Jean Christy works for a newspaper in danger of being thrown away by its young owner, Pat Buckley, after Buckley has a falling-out with the editor-in-chief, Robert Lansford. Meanwhile, Lansford hopes to gain tycoon John Dillingwell's business for his public relations firm, and uses his position at Buckley's paper to drum up good press for Dillingwell. In the process, he discovers that Dillingwell's granddaughter Lorri is Buckley's fiancée. Lansford decides to try to charm Lorri, while Christy makes a play for Buckley.

Cast

Production

The film began with the working title of "All Rights Reserved",

Ivy Ledbetter Lee, who worked for the Rockefeller family.[3] The film's title was changed to Four's a Crowd in February.[4]

Warner Bros. borrowed Rosalind Russell from

Comet Over Broadway.[5] William Dieterle, originally slated to direct the film,[2] was also moved to Comet Over Broadway at the same time.[6]

Edmund Goulding directly turned down directing it, before it was finally assigned to Michael Curtiz.[3] Although principal photography went 12 days over the allotted time due to this switching in directors, Curtiz still managed to bring it in $12,000 under budget.[3]

Release

With the success of

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Errol Flynn was concerned about being typecast as a swashbuckler, and convinced Warner Bros. to cast him in other types of films, specifically screwball comedies.[3] However, Four's a Crowd was not a success at the box office, and encouraged Warner Bros. to keep Flynn in action roles.[7]

References

  1. ^ Vagg, Stephen (November 10, 2019). "The Films of Errol Flynn: Part 2 The Golden Years". Filmink.
  2. ^
    TCM.com
  3. ^
    TCM.com
  4. ^ Schallert, Edwin. "'Manon' Suggested as Crawford Subject: Dick Powell Assigned Hope, Lamour Team Temple Cast Named Comment and Castings" Los Angeles Times (February 17, 1938)
  5. ^ "COLMAN TO STAR IN 'IF I WERE KING'". New York Times. Feb 2, 1938. ProQuest 102652280.
  6. ^ Schallert, E. (Mar 18, 1938). "Variety of stories lined up for muni". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 164824975.
  7. ^ Thomas, Tony; Behlmer, Rudy and McCarty, Clifford. The Films of Errol Flynn, Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1969. p.69
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