THE MORE THE MERRIER

US, 1943, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea?, Charles Coburn, Bruce Bennett. Directed by George Stevens.

The More the Merrier is in the tradition of the 40s screwball comedies. However, it has a World War Two setting - the background is more serious, but the style is still enjoyable. Jean Arthur (who had appeared in some of Frank Capra's excellent comedies including Mr Deeds Goes to Town, Mr Smith Goes to Washington and You Can't Take it With You) is expert at this kind of comedy. Joel McCrea? had appeared in many of the comedies and starred in Preston Sturges' The Palm Beach Story. The elderly Charles Coburn, at the beginning of a screen career, received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He was to go on and do variations of this role for the next fifteen years,- to great effect.

Direction is by George Stevens, director of many dramas and romances of the 30s, 40s and 50s and made such films as I Remember Mama, A Place in the Sun, Giant winning Oscars for the latter two films).

The film was remade with the Tokyo Olympics as the setting for Walk, Don't Run with Jin Hutton, Samantha Eggar and Cary Grant in the central roles.

1. The appeal of this 1940s comedy? The tradition of the screwball comedy? The atmosphere of World War Two and Washington?

2. The work of George Stevens, drama and comedy? The strength and experience of the cast? Charles Coburn's Oscar-winning performance?

3. Atmosphere of Washington, the city, the streets, crowded, the apartments, workplaces? The score? The song: 'Damn the Torpedoes'?

4, The appeal of the screwball comedy and the romantic comedy? The battle of the sexes? Visual and verbal wit? The clashes and the happy ending?

5. Jean Arthur's style and presence as Connie: career, a career woman, her work, the war, her encounter with Mr Dingle, renting the apartment, the encounter with Joe, the sub-letting? Her reluctance? Timetables and the comedy of timing? innuendo? Clashes with Joe? The influence of Mr Dingle? From clash to romance? The happy ending?

6. Joe, the American hero, work, looking for apartment, the sub-letting, friendship with Mr Dingle, the arrangement, the comedy of the clash, the comedy of the timing? Love blossoming?

7. Charles Coburn as Benjamin Dingle: age, nice, background, sardonic, playing Cupid, the apartment, sub-letting, the comedy of the timing?

8. Life in Washington: offices, newspapers, restaurants?

9. The background of the war effort, the comedy to entertain audiences? Morale-boosting with the light touch?