THE SAILOR TAKES A WIFE
US, 1945, 92 minutes. Black and white.
Robert Walker, June Allyson, Hume Cronyn, Audrey Totter, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, Reginald Owen.
Directed by Richard Whorf.
The Sailor Takes a Wife is based on a play by Chester Erskine. The film is quite stage-bound, though with the attractive leads, it seems less so, more of a romantic situation comedy.
June Allyson and Robert Walker portray a couple who meet at a dance canteen during World War Two, immediately fall in love, get married. She wants to marry a man in uniform. The next day he is dismissed from the navy as unfit. The film shows the various ups and downs in their initial days of marriage, including a bit of jealousy on the part of Robert Walker for his wife working for Hume Cronyn who has wanted to marry her. She is suspicious of the Romanian refugee from the Nazis who lives downstairs and misinterprets all kinds of situations. The film is typical American home drama, a bit of suggestiveness in a very modest way. The film also features Audrey Totter as the Romanian, Hume Cronyn as the boss, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson (without Jack Benny) as the super of the building and Reginald Owen as a manufacturer of plastics who is infatuated with the Romanian.
The film is very much up to expectations, the type of romantic comedy about marriage made in the early 1940s. It was directed by actor (Blues in the Night) turned director, Richard Whorf.
1. The popularity of this kind of romantic comedy during World War Two? The 40s? Afterwards? In retrospect?
2. The simplicity of the title? The war atmosphere? Joining up? Rejection because of lack of fitness? The importance of the uniform? The importance of marriage? The discussions about meeting, falling in love, getting to know the partners? The hazards of not knowing each other?
3. Black and white photography, New York settings? The apartments? Homes? The musical score?
4. The introduction to John and Mary? In love? The aftermath of the dancing? Their discussion about falling in love? His being a sailor, her love for uniforms? Their going to the justice of the peace, getting married? Staying up all night? His going back to the navy?
5. Mary and her relationship with Freddie, taking dictation, at the restaurant, his fussiness and self-importance, his response to her saying she was married? His wanting to marry her himself? Mary and Freddie at the office? Her work? Inviting Freddie to the meal? With Lisa and Mr Amboy? The fiasco and the accident?
6. John, coming back from the navy? The reaction of Harry? Not expecting him? His love for Mary? Her acceptance of his being out of the navy? His touch of jealousy about Freddie? His encounters with Lisa? The preparation of the meal? The accident? Freddie and his walking out? The tension between the two? Mary giving up her job immediately?
7. The character of Freddie, his boasting about his company, its age? The quality of the pots? His love for Mary? Living with his mother? The birthday party, the gift of the coat? Her accepting it – then visiting, his advances on her, her walking out and leaving the coat?
8. John, talking with Lisa, the drinking, the lipstick? Mary’s reaction? The double packing and leaving? Being locked in the room?
9. Harry, fixing things, the lift, the door, his interventions?
10. Mr Amboy, the rivalry with Freddie? The accident? His relationship with Lisa?
11. Lisa, her story, the femme fatale – played for laughs? Her nice gesture with the nightgown?
12. The reconciliation? The triviality of the upsets, the potential for jealousy? Romantic comedy style?
