DOUBLE WEDDING

US, 1937, 87 minutes, Black and white.
William Powell, Myrna Loy, Florence Rice, John Beal, Jessie Ralph, Edgar Kennedy, Sydney Toller.
Directed by Richard Thorpe.

Double Wedding is a piece of MGM fluff, one of the many pairings of William Powell and Myrna Loy, over and above the Thin Man series.
Powell portrays a bohemian artist who wants to make a film and auditions a young woman for the starring role, Florence Rice, and her rather slow-witted fiance, John Beal. They are both under control of the the actresses sister, Mona Lawley, a businesswoman who is meticulous and unrelenting.

As might be expected, when the two meet, there is an attraction despite their attitudes and, gradually, falling in love with all kinds of tests for the main characters – and an engaging supporting performance by Jessie Ralph as a tough-minded grande dame.

1. Screwball comedy of the 1930s? Based on a play?

2. MGM production values, the cast, New York City, black and white photography, the musical score?

3. The theme of the Bohemian versus the controller, and mutual change?

4. Charlie, William Powell and his reputation at the time, Bohemian, living in the trailer, wanting to correct films, the senior the rehearsal and his dramatics, his relationship with Irene and encouraging her, with water and his deadpan performances? Hearing about Margit, meeting her, initial sparring with her? At spikes, his friends? The interactions with market, in the trailer, doing her portrait?

5. Margit and her life, organised, bringing up Irene, making Irene’s choices, water and Irene living with her four years, running everything, the morning menu, keeping time, managing the shock, fashions, too busy the personal relationships? The dates, Bordeaux and Irene having to clocking? Slipping out?

6. Irene, romance, wanting to be in films, dependent on market, responding to Charlie, loving Bordeaux, but exasperated with his nice response to everything? Not being forceful? Going up to defining Margit, engaged to Charlie?

7. Water, his doping manner, always agreeable, respect for market, the Charlie? Irene defying him, the engagement, Charlie trying to build him up, challenging, the meeting in the restaurant, the plan to the punch and Waldo not able to do it? The finale, Waldo walking himself, in the bar, going to the wedding?

8. Market, employing cheer to follow Charlie, the reports, Charlie getting the reports about Margit? The comic style of the shadowing? Charlie and his deal?

9. Market, the return to Charlie, the arguments about leaving Irene alone, the deal, opposing, her disdain? Going to spikes, looking down on people, calling him in a? Going to the trailer, the outing in the country, snoozing, her taking the van?

10. Mrs Kensington- Bly, tough, humorous, advice to Margit, knowing Charlie, the exuberant past?

11. Claire, Charley marrying her, the reasons, the money, in Paris, the separation, his not wanting any money? Mark and distinctly?

12. The wedding, the setup, the trailer, awarded to be best man, Margit determined to have everything complete, the crowds arriving, everybody in the trailer, the judge and his exasperation?

13. Charlie, trying to delay the wedding, the mixups, descending into farce, the fights, the brawl in the street, Waldo finally arriving, punching Charlie? Charlie being knocked out?

14. The popularity of the stars in the 1930s and this as an entertaining star vehicle?