It's Love I'm After
It's Love I'm After | |
---|---|
Directed by | Archie Mayo |
Screenplay by | Casey Robinson |
Based on | "Gentlemen After Midnight" by Maurice Hanline |
Produced by | |
Starring |
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Cinematography | James Van Trees |
Edited by | Owen Marks |
Music by | Heinz Roemheld |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
It's Love I'm After is a 1937 American
.Plot
Basil Underwood and Joyce Arden are an egotistical acting team known for their romantic scenes on stage and fiery temperaments off. Although they deeply love each other, their frequent spats over the years have kept them from tying the knot.
Comic complications ensue when Basil postpones their latest marriage plans in order to attempt to diminish the ardor of star-struck heiress Marcia West at the request of her fiancé Henry Grant. When Basil's boorish behavior fails to bother Marcia, who is all-too-willing to submit to his charms, he begins to capitalize on her infatuation with him, much to Joyce's dismay.
The screenplay allows Leslie Howard to draw on his classical background by having his character quote lines from Macbeth, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, and Romeo and Juliet.
Cast
- Leslie Howardas Basil Underwood
- Bette Davis as Joyce Arden
- Olivia de Havilland as Marcia West
- Patric Knowles as Henry Grant, Jr.
- Eric Blore as Digges
- George Barbier as William West
- Bonita Granville as Gracie Kane
- Spring Byington as Aunt Ella Paisley
- Georgia Caine as Mrs. Kane (as Georgia Craine)
- Veda Ann Borg as Elsie
- E. E. Clive as First Butler
- Valerie Bergere as Joyce's Maid
- Sarah Edwards as Mrs. Hinkle
- Thomas Pogue as Mr. Hinkle
- Grace Field as Mrs. Babson (as Grace Fields)
- Harvey Clark as Mr. Babson
- Edmund Mortimer as Mr. Kane (as Ed Mortimer)
- Thomas R. Mills as Second Butler (as Thomas Mills)
- Irving Bacon as Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Production
Leslie Howard originally envisioned either Gertrude Lawrence or Ina Claire, both noted for their comedic stage performances, as his leading lady, although they had limited experience in films. Producer Hal B. Wallis had director Archie Mayo meet with Lawrence, who was interested in playing the role, but when Wallis and Howard screened the 1936 British film Men Are Not Gods, they agreed Lawrence did not photograph well.[1]
The film began production without a leading lady. Then Wallis decided the
Reception
Time described the film as "refreshing, impudent fun: a buoyant cinema making faces at its precise old aunt, the theatre."[3]
In his review in
Channel 4 called the film "fast-moving and thoroughly enjoyable."[5]
Musical adaptation
It's Love I'm After is the basis of a stage musical comedy called Madly in Love, which interpolates songs by
References
- ^ a b c It's Love I'm After at Turner Classic Movies
- ISBN 0-02-551500-4, p. 101
- ^ Time review
- ^ "It's Love I'm After at Allmovie". Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ^ Channel 4 review
- ^ Castalbums.org listing for Madly in Love