TOO MANY HUSBANDS

US, 1940, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Arthur, Melvyn Douglas, Fred MacMurray?, Harry Davenport, Dorothy Peterson, Melville Cooper, Edgar Buchanan.
Directed by Wesley Ruggles.

Too Many Husbands is one of many screwball romantic comedies of this type from the '30s and '40s. The cast was quite adept at this kind of entertainment. Columbia seemed to specialise in such films. Jean Arthur is the plucky heroine. Fred MacMurray? is pleasantly ingenuous, Melvyn Douglas something of a hero/sap. Harry Davenport is Jean Arthur's father. The film was directed by Wesley Ruggles who was also adept at this kind of romantic humour. The film has its tongue in cheek ?.and though dated, is still an enjoyable example from its period.

1. The popularity of the '30s and '40s screwball comedy? Impact in their time? Later?

2. Columbia production values: black and white photography, affluent society? The stars?

3. The title and its irony? Vicky's dilemma? The problem of her marriages? The tongue-in-cheek and wink ending?

4. The plausibility and implausibility of the plot? Vicky and her marriage, her wealth, remarriage? Her doting father? Gertrude and her comments? Marriage, romance, divorce? Ethics and morals? Propriety?

5. Jean Arthur as Vicky - vigorous style, in herself, her relationship with Henry, the new marriage? Questions of the firm? Her father? Bill's turning up again? The ambiguity of farcical aspects of her problem? Relating to each? Trying to resolve whose wife she was? The humour of the ending?

6. Henry as Bill's best friend? Marrying Vicky? Changing the firm? His being somewhat inept? A pleasant sap? As compared with Bill and his vigour? The firm? The ambiguities of the situation and each handling it? Fencing? Verbal thrusts? Attentions to Vicky? Legal relationships? Friendships?

7. Vicky's father and his advice? Gertrude and her being in love with Bill?

8. Verbal wit? Humorous situations? Entertaining farce?