MY LOVE CAME BACK

US, 1940, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Olivia de Havilland, Jeffrey Lynn, Eddie Albert, Jane Wyman, Charles Winninger, Spring Byington, Grant Mitchell, William T. Orr, Anne Gillis, S. Z. Sakall.
Directed by Kurt Bernhardt.

My Love Came Back is a light comedy from Warner Brothers, 1940 style. Olivia de Havilland plays a violinist who is dependent on scholarships to continue her course. She shares rooms with musicians Eddie Albert and Jane Wyman, both very bright performers and very engaging here. Getting into trouble with the orchestra director, S.Z. Sakall doing his usual puffy comedy, she becomes the protégé of a company owner, Charles Winninger, who becomes infatuated with her, providing her with more support of money but concealed on the account of his manager, Jeffrey Lynn.

This leads to quite a lot of complications, the thought that Olivia was kept woman and Jeffrey Lynn’s reaction, the company owner taking his protégé to concerts and trying to conceal his infatuation from his wife and two children. Needless to say, it all works out at the end, especially under the charming diplomacy of the wife, played by Spring Byington.

Kurt Bernhardt, Curtis Bernhardt, was to continue to make a number of more serious films for Warner Brothers.

1. An entertaining romance, 1940s style?

2. Production values, Warner Brothers, black-and-white photography, New York settings, the music scene, classic, swing? Apartments? Wealthy mentions? Music companies? The musical score?

3. Amelia, her skills, running late, in the subway, reprimanded by the Director, her angry response to his criticisms, overheard by Dr Kobbe and Mr Malette, Malette and his infatuation, his scheme, the scholarships, encouraging Amelia, taking her to concerts?

4. The financial arrangements, Tony and his keeping the accounts, Paul and his dislike of Tony, the clashes, Tony’s promotion, the exposé? Paul and his meeting Amelia, accompanied by the straight-talking Valerie? Been charmed?

5. The wedding anniversary, Mr Malette staying at home, music with his family, getting Tony to apologise? Tony, meeting Amelia, dancing? His suspicions of her? Falling in love?

6. Dusty and Joy, flatmates, romance, comedy, the swing, performances, taking the cheque and causing the difficulties?

7. Paul, his apologies, Tony, his suspicions and rejection of Amelia? Covering for Mr Malette?

8. The couple taking the cheque, the audition, being asked to play at the birthday party? Amelia consenting, not knowing where the party was? Her being upset? Meeting Mrs Malette, the calming effect, explaining the whole story, Mrs Malette, her charm, understanding her husband? Getting Amelia to play the Mendelssohn? Her confidence? The music critic, response to the blend of classic and swing, the orchestra being mischievous, the Director finally
conducting?

9. Dusty, the confession, explaining the situation to Tony? Tony on his knees and apologising?

10. A piece of romantic fluff – but a reminder, even in the Code days, of the issues of sugar daddies and kept women? Moral perspectives?