EVERY GIRL SHOULD BE MARRIED

US, 1948, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Cary Grant, Betsy Drake, Franchot Tone, Diana Lynn, Alan Mowbray, Elizabeth Risdon, Richard Gaines.
Directed by Don Hartman.

Every Girl Should Be Married is a pleasant piece of '40s romantic fluff. It stars Cary Grant and his then wife Betsy Drake. Grant gives one of his bemused, quizzical performances. Betsy Drake is attractive and forthright. One wonders what they see in each other - but the fact remains that they were married for several years. There is pleasant support from Diana Lynn and Franchot Tone. The film has a blow for feminists in the late '40s. However, it is a programmer -pleasantly done.

1. Entertaining romantic comedy? In the 1940s? Now?

2. Production values: R.K.O. style, stars, brevity, city locations, expected situations?

3. The title and the focus, Annabel and her preoccupation, Julie and her support, Dr. Brown and his resistance? Roger and his several marriages and flirtations? The theme of the battle of the sexes, relationships, families, children, marriage plans (and the wiles of women to catch men)?

4. The portrait of Annabel, her work in the shop, her dreams about marriage, insomnia, discussions with Julie, setting her cap at Dr Brown, contriving meetings, finding out all about him, her pretence of a romance with Roger, Roger playing up to it, further complications, Dr Brown avoiding her, the failure of the outings, the meals etc? The complications with Roger and the photo in the paper? The build-up to a resolution Julie's help, the radio actor pretending to be the boy from back home, Roger bowing out, Dr Brown seeing through it and marrying Annabel? The American girl of the '40s?

5. Cary Grant as Dr Brown - his work with babies, buying clothes etc., the encounters with Annabel, her chasing him, bemused, interested? Convincingly falling in love? The discussions with Roger? With his nurse and her advice? The final clash, the failure meal, the final pretence and his marrying-her?

6. Julie as the friend, good advice, support, entering into the plans?

7. Roger as the rich man about town, the shop, his suave manner in the restaurant, his infatuation with Annabel, his exasperation with her behaviour in the street, his going to even things out, bowing out?

8. The finale with the radio actor coming in as the country boyfriend?

9. Romantic themes, American romantic comedy - styles of the past, perennial styles?