IN NAME ONLY
US, 1939, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Kay Francis, Charles Coburn.
Directed by John Cromwell.
In Name Only is a very entertaining melodrama with a touch of soap opera from the late '30s. It was directed by John Cromwell who made, amongst other films at this time, The Prisoner of Zenda, Made For Each Other, Abe Lincoln in Illinois.
The cast is very good - a relaxed Cary Grant, a charming Carole Lombard with Kay Francis trying to personify evil (not particularly successfully, though the part is strongly written). Charles Coburn appears as Cary Grant's stern father. It is a story of arranged marriage, brittle marriage `in name only', the possibility of a second chance and the refusal of an evil and cruel wife to give her husband a divorce.
The film is well played and neatly written. It involves its audience, sympathies for Grant and Lombard, antipathy towards Francis. It has a last-moment resolution which may be realistically impossible, but works dramatically well. A superior melodrama of its type. (Peggy Ann Garner appears in a very early role as Carole Lombard's daughter.)
1. Enjoyable drama? Touch of soap opera? Classy style of the '30s?
2. Black and white photography, the Connecticut and New York settings? Pace and mood? Musical score?
3. The title and reference to marriage, commitment, love, divorce?
4. Alec and his situation, riding, meeting Julie, sharing the sandwich, going out with her and Ellen? The brittle relationship with Maida? Keeping his distance, late for the party, going out for meals? The clash with his parents? Suzanne and her pushiness, the car crash? Alec confronting Maida with the letter from the man who committed suicide because of her? The arrangement at home? For the divorce? Audience sympathy for him, for Julie? His not telling his parents, leaving the information to Maida? Maida's humiliation of Julie at the party?
5. The possibility of divorce, the discussion, Maida's promise, seeing her off at the boat, the phone calls to Paris, her being with his parents? The delay? The sudden return? Alec trapped?
6. Maida and her personality, her motives, explanation for her choices in marrying Alec, the man who committed suicide for her? Her lack of feeling? The accident, suspicions of Julie, taking her the flowers, inviting her to the party, manipulating her humiliation? Leaving for Paris, not getting the divorce, the surprise return, her manipulating the Christmas Eve situation, answering the phone to Julie, the clash with Julie and with Alec? Alec's illness? Her going to visit him, giving herself away in her greed and planning? A personification of evil?
7. Julie as attractive, widow, love for her daughter, her sister, the sketches and her work? The meeting with Alec? Covering the accident for Suzanne? Cool towards Alec when discovering he was married? The party and her humiliation? Going back to the city, Laura's anger with her and her own broken marriage? The decision to go with Alec, the month's delay? In love, Ellen comfortable with Alec? Christmas and the gifts? Laura's return and her mellowing? Maida answering the phone? The crisis, Julie helping Alec in his illness, the hospital? Being urged to go in and comfort him, help him to get back to health?
8. Alec and the effect of falling in love with Julie, discreet, the months passing, Christmas? Surprised at his apartment? Telling his parents the truth? Julie being hurt? Going to the hotel, drinking, the open window? His illness, Julie looking after him (and his anger at the approaches of the hotel manager)? His being reassured by Julie - but not believing?
9. The sketch of his parents, their wealth, business, concern for propriety, support of Maida? Snubbing of Julie? The doctor? Changing of attitude when the specialist advised Julie's helping him for his recovery? Their discovery of the truth?
10. The sketch of Suzanne, her flirting, the come-on, her pushing herself on Alec, gossipping with Maida?
11. Strongly-drawn characters? Emotions? Issues and themes? Still relevant?
