Love Crazy (1941) User Reviews

William Powell makes a helluva woman

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 5 March 2006]

"Love Crazy" is a rather uneven comedy starring that wonderful team of Myrna Loy and William Powell, along with Jack Carson and Florence Bates. The film starts out one way - a madly in love couple celebrating their fourth anniversary - and then goes another - divorce court.

When Stephen Ireland (Powell) runs into an old girlfriend (Gail Patrick) living in his building, the fun begins. They spend the evening talking, but due to a variety of circumstances, Susan (Loy) doesn't believe his story and decides to file for divorce immediately. Stephen does everything he can to get his wife back, but as the divorce becomes close to being finalized, he feigns insanity to buy more time.

Powell is great at slapstick, of course, and there's plenty of it as he slips on the rug his mother-in-law (Bates) gave them and swings upside down from trees. The extra little kick here comes from his scenes in drag, which are phenomenal. Powell is perfect as his own sister and even shaved his trademark mustache! One of the funniest scenes occurs when a thread from his fake breast gets caught on the spindle of the record player and unravels.

There's little to be said about Powell and Loy - they are always a delight. Jack Carson has a great role as a neighbor interested in Loy. "Willoughby, Ward Willoughby," is how he introduces himself. He's wonderful. Florence Bates is appropriately annoying. Gail Patrick, with her good looks and magnificent voice, has a part that actually disappears for a good deal of the film, but returns later. She's excellent. But Powell in drag is a revelation and the best thing about the film for me.

I read recently with interest that Don Adams' voice in "Get Smart" was actually modeled on Powell's speaking patterns and pitch. Of course, during this film, I couldn't stop thinking about it and realizing the similarity. Don Adams couldn't have chosen a better model.

the brilliant William Powell!!!!!

[cnh1254 · 7/10 · 14 August 2005]

This script really could have used some trimming, but Powell really comes through with some truly memorable moments. I'll never get over his drag scene-I don't recall seeing many drag scenes that were ever truly so well done. I crack up every time!!!!!!! He really goes beyond the so-so script and breathes life into all his scenes. Jack Carson is a great addition as well. And Myrna, well she's just so Myrna! This movie would be nothing if weren't for her and her male co-stars performances. Its too bad that all the great moments and strong performances aren't sewn up with a tight script, but its still plenty of fun.

The Great William Powell

[sagreenberg · 8/10 · 24 June 2008]

As a big fan of The Thin Man movies, I really wanted to see this film because of William Powell and Myrna Loy. I'm so glad I did because it was fantastic! It does fit the genre of screwball comedies of that time period without any alteration, so you may find yourself picking up on the rhythm of the script and predicting lines, as I did. The supporting cast is great, but what is surprising is that in this film, it almost feels like Myrna Loy is included in that group. William Powell took every scene he was in and carried it right away. He was droll and a little weird, but he still remained a believable character. There were some moments when I cringed, I'll only mention Abraham Lincoln if you haven't seen this movie, but they did not detract from me rolling around on the floor in laughter. I suppose I must mention Powell in drag, which is ridiculously funny and countered extremely well by Loy. She did her best work in her scenes with Powell just by playing along or completely denying any of his efforts to seem insane. Although they both get top billing, this is William Powell's film. He was hilarious and honest and I can't believe this film isn't more talked about!

The name's Willoughby, Ward Willoughby...

[theowinthrop · 9/10 · 3 March 2005]

Although two of the "Thin Man" films, and "I Love You Again" usually have their fans as the best Powell-Loy romp, this one is in that select bunch. Powell never did another film with a drag scene in it - and what a scene (his fake breast slowly collapses when it is snared on a record player). The scenes with psychiatrists Vladimir Sokoloff and Sig Ruman are funny too, as are the various confrontations with mother-in-law Florence Bates (notice that business about the unwanted rug she gave them), and ...best of all... the other man in the plot - Jack Carson who is always ready to explain he is Ward Willoughby (one wonders if Rod Sterling watched this and Willoughby's eventual fate, when he created the "Twilight Zone" episode about the town of that name). I found this an absolute scream, and recommend it highly.

It's Delightful To Be Crazy

[bkoganbing · 9/10 · 9 August 2007]

In watching Love Crazy I was amazed at how the film picked up in the second half. In the first half William Powell and Myrna Loy are the usual happy married couple, but through some typical movie situations, some of them very forced, they wind in divorce court.

Powell realizes that things have just gotten completely out of hand and wants to apply a break to the divorce. But Loy won't hear of it. So Powell decides to put on a crazy act because if insanity is claimed a thirty day hold is put on the proceedings.

Sad for Powell, but hilarious for the viewer the scheme succeeds all to well. The second half of the film reaches a frantic pace that comes close to something Mel Brooks might put together. Powell is first trying to prove he's insane and then very much trying to prove he's not.

Such wonderful supporting players as Florence Bates, the mother-in-law from hell, neighbors slinky Gail Patrick and slow burn Donald MacBride; blow-hard Jack Carson, a redundancy if there ever was one, Viennese psychiatrist Sig Ruman, make this Powell-Loy film a joy to watch and one of the better ones where they're not Nick and Nora Charles.

Powell does more physical type comedy in this film than in any other I've ever seen. Even more than Libeled Lady because it had only that one classic scene in the trout stream. Here Powell is engaging in all kinds of screwy behavior because he's trying to convince people he's just that. Topped off by him shaving his famous mustache and getting into drag to play his own make believe sister.

Great screwball comedy one of the best of its kind.

Hilarious hijinks with Powell in drag...Loy and Powell at their peak...

[Doylenf · 6 May 2001]

Worth the price of admission is seeing William Powell pretending to be insane in order to postpone divorce proceedings--and then, to top that, disguise himself as a female relative in what has to be one of the funniest madcap screwball comedies ever!

Jack Carson, Gail Patrick and the wonderful Florence Bates (as the mother-in-law from hell) are captivating in supporting roles. It's a riot from beginning to end--fast-paced and sure to tickle your funnybone--if you have one.

Powell and Loy were a wonderful team as Nick and Nora Charles--but this is their finest screwball comedy and they're both at the top of their form. Well worth viewing, it's a surprisingly little known gem.

off with a great start...

[sarasdano · 7/10 · 24 October 2002]

There are genuinely funny moments in this film; I didn't want to take my eyes off Powell and Loy for a second during the first half. The last act, however, really gets ridiculous with the psychiatrists' examination of Powell. It may have been inane just for laughs, but it seemed to escape me. Besides that, all the misunderstandings between characters, and especially the elevator scene, are prime examples of comedy that will be hard to top. It's hard to find that excellent Powell/Loy chemistry anywhere else, though their other films are of higher quality.

Bbble bbble bbble

[Spondonman · 8/10 · 10 August 2008]

One of my favourite screwball comedies, what with William Powell and Myrna Loy and great MGM cast and production values who could ask for anything more? Well, maybe a more even plotting, but on such a manic roller-coaster ride, you don't really have time to care.

Happy couple celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary are plunged into suspicion when Powell's slinky ex Gail Patrick and world champion bow and arrower Jack Carson (keeping his torso free) appear in their lives. Filing for divorce ensues, the only way Powell can stop it is to feign insanity. Things inevitably and delightfully go from bad to worse. And it all could have been avoided by an intelligible explanation by him to her of why there was a taxi cab waiting for him outside the hotel! Is a wife who's so ready to call her previously faithful and adoring husband a liar worthy of such a chase? But this is Powell & Loy and you know that everything is all right throughout and everything will be all right by the end because they obviously love each other so much. Carson put in a solid performance, it would have been a poorer film without his knockabout honesty. Powell and Carson keep hilariously jibing each other as nuts with bbble bbble bbble's, but I suppose some serious people today who have inexplicably watched this might not find the subject of madness treated the way they'd like. Phhhffft - political correctness is lunacy anyway! Favourite bits: Powell's bedraggled return from posting his mother-in-law's letter; freeing his feet from the tyranny of his enemy shoes; the method of escape from the sanatorium; Loy's elegant poise throughout in contrast to Powell's slapstick.

It's certainly not perfect but it's still a gem, a delightful 98 minutes of nonsense.

Powell the crazy little teapot

[gbill-74877 · 7/10 · 7 December 2017]

I'll start by saying seeing William Powell in drag is probably worth the price of admission on its own. Early on, you also have his playful repartee with Myrna Loy, in this the 10th of the 14 movies they made together. In 'Love Crazy', the happily married couple is about to celebrate its 4th anniversary, but get interrupted first by her mother-in-law (Florence Bates), and then by his old flame (Gail Patrick). In a comedy of errors, Loy thinks Powell has cheated on her, seeks a divorce, and then Powell attempts to postpone the proceedings by feigning insanity. It's fun to see Powell in various screwball moments, including getting his head stuck between elevator doors, pretending he's a teapot, and doing things like shoving round blocks into his mouth. Powell had tremendous range and carries the movie; Loy isn't bad herself, but has less to work with. The movie degenerates a bit towards the end, but it was reasonably engaging and fun to watch.

Pure, classic, screwball entertainment!

[ksneath · 10/10 · 27 June 2008]

It's hard to think of how you'd put together a more enjoyable screwball comedy than this... I've seen most of the classic screwballs (including Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, You Can't Take it With You, & Libeled Lady) and this one equals or exceeds them in my book.

First off, you have the screen's most engaging and witty couple working their magic. Anything you've not seen with Powell and Loy together is worth the watch -- period. In addition, you have a large group of excellent character actors in top form which only adds to the fun. Then you have a sharp script which builds in the early moments of film and then doesn't let up. This movie doesn't throw in a bunch of tender melodramatic moments (although it's sweet in it's own zany way), it's pure screwball throughout!

One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed from this film was the marvelous vehicle it was for William Powell. He's given the majority of the strong scenes (although Myrna Loy has a wonderful, hilarious vignette with Jack Carson), and he eats them up and spits them out brilliantly with us laughing all the way. Everything from his famous witty retorts to physical comedy, to dressing up as his own (hideous!) sister, he does it all here, and its great fun to watch.

Unequivocally recommended!

Another Great Powell-Loy Matchup

[atlasmb · 7/10 · 9 August 2014]

In the aptly named "Love Crazy", Myrna Loy and William Powell again prove that they make a marvelous screen pairing. And someone did a good job of selecting projects for them.

The story starts with Powell and Loy almost giddily happy about their fourth anniversary. Then Susan's (Loy's) mother arrives and things go downhill. She's a clueless meddler who doesn't really like her son-in-law Stephen (Powell). Circumstances conspire to thrust an old flame into Stephen's path and his mother-in-law is there to witness just enough to inject doubt into the happy couple's relationship.

It's a winding story, but eventually Stephen tries to convince everyone that he is insane in order to save his marriage. Things spiral out of control as each misunderstanding compounds.

Powell proves a master of physical comedy in this film and he turns in an impressive performance dressed as a woman. The writing delivers some terrific one-liners.

Although this film deserves to be considered one of the best Powell-Loy matchups, for me the level drops off slightly after Susan starts to seriously doubt Stephen.

And it may be just me, but the portrayals of the legal profession and the psychiatry profession took me slightly out of the story. The legal doctrine used in the film seemed fabricated in parts. And the haphazard use of psychiatric jargon was jarring. It is possible, I suppose, that a psychiatrist in 1940 might have used phrenology as an aid in diagnosis, but no doctor would actually confuse schizophrenia with insanity. But these are not serious impediments to enjoying this film. I will deduct one point in my grading.

This film has much to recommend it. The Powell-Loy chemistry shines in the best parts and the twisting plot keeps things interesting.

Another Powell-Loy Classic

[houserbloodstock · 10/10 · 20 May 2000]

This is another great comedy with William Powell and Myrna Loy. The elevator scene in this movie is just one of the hilarious scenes. I've watched this movie at least 20 times and every time I watch the elevator skit I laugh as much as I did the first time.

loy and powell crazy but ...

[cheeseplease · 7/10 · 5 July 2006]

Myrna Loy and William Powell were truly one of the greatest film couples ever. Sensible chic Myrna and goofy elegant Bill--how they paired well in many of their comedies! "Love Crazy" is the vein of "Double Wedding," "I Love You Again," "Libeled Lady," and maybe a touch of the Thin Man series. One can rely on their on-screen chemistry together in this movie. You know they're bound to make up after he's made an utter fool of himself. In a dress, no less! There are, of course, slow and arguably overly silly scenes in the film (the elevator, perhaps?). But this movie is worth it. If you like it, make sure to watch the other movies I mentioned above.

All the ingredients of a good comedy without the humor

[glm39 · 5/10 · 26 August 2003]

This screwball comedy is so screwy that it rapidly becomes strained. The plot machinations are contrived and do not arise naturally from the characters. There are a few funny moments, but the inspiration is very thin throughout.

It is hard to say why some crazy comedies work and some do not, but it is easy to tell when one doesn't. Powell and Loy had much better material to work with in The Thin Man.

Delightful screwball comedy is solid and laugh-filled enough to please anyone; and it features the "lip flubby"

[J. Spurlin · 13 July 2010]

Stephen Ireland (William Powell) has been deliriously happy with his wife, Susan (Myrna Loy), for four years, but a series of misunderstandings begin on their fourth anniversary, involving a stalled elevator, Steve's old flame (who has just moved in downstairs) and a forgotten taxi cab. They end with Susan leaving Steve and taking up with the neighboring apartment dweller (Jack Carson), an expert archer who works best in his undershirt. Susan's mother (Florence Bates) is thrilled with this new choice, but Steve is out to win back his wife despite all obstacles. He pretends to be mad in order to delay the divorce, but winds up in an insane asylum. He escapes but is forced to dress as a woman and pretend to be his own sister in order to evade the police and win back his wife.

This delightful screwball comedy is solid and laugh-filled enough to please anyone, but hasn't got quite enough zest to rank with the best in the genre. Powell and Loy together guarantee good entertainment. And if they aren't enough this film is bursting at the seams with familiar character actors.

By the way, you know that thing people do when they mimic insanity, the thing that provides a running gag in this film? It involves running one's index finger up and down over one's lips to make a noise that sounds like "beedeebeedeebeedeebee." A friend of mine has coined a term for this bit of business: the "lip flubby." We need a term for this thing, so please help spread it.

A great romantic screwball comedy...

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 3 August 2021]

... and MGM was normally not that good with that genre, but with William Powell and Myrna Loy they always succeeded.

Steve (William Powell) and Susan Ireland (Myrna Loy) are set to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary when everything that could go wrong does, and a series of misunderstandings lead to Susan wanting a divorce. Steve will stop at nothing to get her back, even if it means pretending to be crazy to stall the divorce proceedings. Susan doesn't buy his act for a moment and decides if her life is going to be put on hold that Steve would be better off in a mental hospital.

This is a real showcase for Powell, who gets to run the gamut of suave to silly, even going so far as to shave off his signature mustache to appear in drag. He and Loy have their usual excellent chemistry, and while her role is less showy than his, she's still memorable. Jack Carson and Florence Bates are both good at being unlikable, and they exploit that here, with Bates as Steve's meddlesome mother in law and Carson as a vain lug whose preferred form of exercise is bare chested archery. Sidney Blackmer is a lawyer with a dry sense of humor and comic zingers are sprinkled generously throughout the cast. Sara Haden takes time off from playing Andy Hardy's maiden aunt to portray a kleptomaniac at a mental hospital.

It's odd seeing Gail Patrick as the perceived "other woman" and Powell's old girlfriend who still has a thing for him just five years after she played a rich girl who had it in for Powell's character in My Man Godfrey. But, you know, her character had a thing for Powell's character in that film too.

The first and last thirds of the film (basically the parts that take place at Powell/Loy's apt.) are inspired, zany stuff that at times equal and even exceed the best of the Marx Brothers. Even if some of the situations stretch credulity, the movie is still funny.

One of the Best of the Team of Powell and Loy

[thunderway · 8/10 · 28 June 2006]

Frankly, I just recently discovered this team, besides seeing part of The Thin Man years ago (prior to my interest in classics). TCM played a run of their movies recently (Double Wedding, I Love You Again, Love Crazy).

Of the many comedy teams, I truly like Powell and Loy the best now from all of film history (Close second in modern films is Adam Sandler and Drew Barrimore). It's a case of two people so well in sync; the performances mesh so smoothly in every moment, it becomes real. The perfect rhythms aren't real life, but the way real life should be in marriage.

Possibly its their brand of humor, and certainly the writing makes a difference, but Powell is such a consummate comedian when given any kind of chance (compare My Man Godfrey, passable with Carole Lombard the screwball, where Powell is great to watch even though the script constrains his talent).

Myrna Loy is so brilliant at being funny, intelligent, independent and genuinely loving all at once. Her characters with Powell are dream wives. Like the documentary on her, "So Nice To Come Home To"--could not be stated more perfectly.

Powell's drag performance stunned me. Several more modern examples, which I thought of as definitive, suddenly aren't so original and certainly no better. I would put his acting equal to or better than Tootsie or Mrs. Doubtfire. My opinion of his acting talent leaped another plateau.

Regardless of its faults mentioned elsewhere, this is the one of the best Powell-Loy pair ups. Loy has a bit less to do, but it would not be worth seeing without her. The supporting cast is sometimes cliché, but they are perfect at it. (And the portrayal of the mental health "professionals" seems madcap and again cliché, but is a bit uncomfortable being so near truth. What happens to Powell is still legal and happens today to sane people that don't fit the norm).

If you like feeling good and watching excellent performances, and having a few belly laughs to boot, don't miss this one.

good, not great

[rupie · 6/10 · 8 January 2003]

One should never pass up the opportunity to catch either William Powell or Myrna Loy, especially when working together. I found this rarely seen screwball comedy to be of interest and containing a good quotient of comedic punch, but it did tend to run on a bit toward the end, especially in Powell/Ireland's drag business. The film could have used a more merciless hand in the cutting room. None the less, it's well worth watching, especially for the contributions of Florence Bates, Jack Carson, Sig Ruman ("Concentration Camp Earhart" of 'To Be or Not to Be') and Donald MacBride.

One of the funniest , laugh-filled, most enjoyable movies ever made

[SimonJack · 10/10 · 12 July 2015]

"Love Crazy" may be the funniest movie ever made. It may be William Powell's best film and the best of the baker's dozen of Powell and Myrna Loy pairings. Those all were so very good. But this one clearly is the zaniest film Powell ever made. And what a beautiful premise and great plot. Pity those viewers who can't get by the absurdity of a notion to enjoy the hilarity of a wonderfully crafted and acted comedy. And, friends, this truly is a screwball comedy.

Everything about "Love Crazy" is superb. The plot, settings, camera work and all technical aspects are tops - although these don't weigh very heavily in the film. The screenplay, witty dialog, pratfalls, and hilarious scenes are wonderful examples of great writing and direction. Top that off with the leading co-stars and a superb supporting cast, and we have one of the best, most endearing and enduring 99 minutes of fun and laughter ever put on film. And this is one of those times when a film's title is right on the mark. This is a crazy film about love.

William Powell is Steve Ireland and Myrna Loy is Susan Ireland. They are celebrating four years of blissful marriage. This is the one film that has cast perfectly the proverbial spiteful mother-in-law. Mrs. Cooper is played by Florence Bates. I don't know if there's ever been another movie made in which the unanimous sentiment of an audience for a wishful act of violence was ever more prevalent. That should tell one something about how well written and acted this movie is - we all want to throw Mrs. Cooper off the balcony. But her character - with our disdain for her -- is an ingenious ploy to feed the comedy that ensues. And Powell is the masterful dupe of all of this - to our great enjoyment and pleasure.

This is another excellent supporting performance by Jack Carson. He was an outstanding actor who never achieved male lead status, but who could play any role to perfection. In my younger years I never cared much for him; but with some wisdom of age one can see how much his acting and roles contributed to the success and enjoyment of many films. Carson's Ward Willoughby is central to several of the hilarious scenes, including one of the funniest ever put on film.

Gail Patrick shines as Isobel Grayson, the one-time girlfriend of Steve's whom he left for Susan. Donald MacBride is perfect as her wealthy and growling jealous husband, "Pinky" Grayson. Vladimir Sokoloff is hilarious in his own right as Dr. Klugle. Sidney Blackmer plays Steve's attorney and friend, George Renny, to perfection. And one of my favorite of all the character actors of Hollywood's golden years gives another of his outstanding comedy performances. Sig Ruman is Dr. Wuthering, head of the Wuthering sanitarium in the country.

"Love Crazy" does something masterful that only the very best comedies achieve. It has several scenes of some length in which the situations themselves are hilarious and they are then embellished by the running dialog of the scenes. If one thinks of the comedy of the Marx Brothers or "I Love Lucy," this distinction is clear. While they had witty and crazy dialog and hilarious antics at times, ne'er the 'twain were met. In other words, the antics were going on sans witty dialog; and when there was funny dialog, there were no antics. On the other hand, the "Carol Burnett Show" on TV often created such situation plus dialog comedy that we see in "Love Crazy."

A sure sign of a movie's lasting quality is its ability to make one laugh in repeated viewings. "Love Crazy" does that for me. It has some of the single funniest scenes ever put on film. Myrna Loy and Jack Carson have me in stitches in a long scene Susan sets up to make Steve jealous. The courtroom scene recounting Steve's "normal" behavior to prove his sanity keeps me laughing throughout. Steve's shenanigans at Mrs. Bristol's party make me laugh time and again. His appearance before the Sanity commission is a riot, with all the doctors. When Susan leaves later, she says there is a nut in the room, "but it isn't Steve." The escape scenes at the sanitarium with Ward and Steve, and then Steve and Dr. Wuthering are hilarious. Steve's makeup as his sister, Miss Ireland from Saskatchewan, leads to very funny scenes. The best of these that has me guffawing every time is Miss Ireland's physical defense of Steve against Ward Willoughby's barbs. When Miss Ireland first slaps Ward, the looks on the faces of everyone are enough to leave one rolling in the aisles with laughter. The follow-ups just build the laughter.

One thing that helps a person get over a case of melancholy is laughter. Short of having family or friends who can help induce the jollies when one is downcast, a good movie can help remedy the blues. But not just any movie will do. It has to be a wholesome, very funny film with dialog and/or situations to make one laugh. Most of the screwball comedies of the black and white era would do. Some are sure-fire bets to relieve the low moods. One of the very best of these is "Love Crazy."

"What, don't tell me you fell for that homicidal maniac stuff!"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 22 March 2016]

Most of the stuff that occurs in the story stretches the limits of credibility but at least Powell and Loy have a good time doing it. This is screwball comedy in high gear, paced by the high energy of the players, especially after Steve Ireland's (William Powell) attorney recommends an insanity defense in a divorce proceeding brought by Mrs. Ireland (Myrna Loy) over a misunderstanding. Did you notice though, even after four years of marriage the Ireland's were sleeping in separate beds.

I'm pretty sure I saw something about this in another film but just chalked it up to a writer's imagination, but this time when the story introduced a Lunacy Commission I had to look it up. Turns out there was such a thing; in England a Lunacy Commission was a public body established to oversee asylums and the welfare of the mentally ill. In New York, the state legislature did away with it's own version of a Lunacy Commission which it considered a patronage racket. That occurred in the Winter of 1940, so it appears that the screen writers got this one in just under the wire.

Reading some of the other viewer comments there seems to be high regard for Powell's cross dressing caper in this one and he did do a pretty good job as his own sister. But the stunt that really caught my eye was that time he did a remarkable flip with a ladder on the grounds of the sanitarium, with his head winding up in between the rungs! I hope he was lucky enough to do that in one take!

I'm sure Thin Man fans will get a kick out of this film. It came out just about the middle of that series of pictures, with Powell and Loy pretty much in the same mode as a lovey dovey couple until things go awry with Isobel Grayson (Gail Patrick), Ward Willoughby (Jack Carson), the ping ponging elevator, the Bristol Party, the watch stealing cockatoo, divorce court, the Lunacy Commission and that blasted infernal rug. At times you can even make sense of it.

Yarn Scene is great

[tcampbell-4 · 9/10 · 11 December 2004]

This is a Myrna/Billy comedy. What's not to love?

We are not keen on slapstick. And William and Myrna are justifiably more noted for their sexy, character-based humor than for anything visual. But we think the yarn/turntable/drag scene is one of the great moments in movies. (And if you've been trolling this site, you know the scene was shot at the cost of a great mustache.)

Jack Carson's a plus too, as Willowby, Ward Willowby, though it's a hard sell to believe that anyone, (especially cute Myrna) could think of preferring him to William Powell. Jack Carson is the master of the obnoxious creep in all his movie appearances.

This is a great movie.

For my money, better than The Thin Man series; Powell is hilarious

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 10 June 2014]

I think many of us love the Thin Man series -- the sophisticated humor with the mysteries really worked well. But I actually prefer this film because the unparalleled chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy is still there, but the story line gives William Powell an opportunity to be silly -- and I mean really silly -- and even do a little slapstick...the type of role we rarely saw him in. Not to mention -- how many times have you seen him in drag? It's delightful.

The story involves an anniversary night that goes all wrong, ending up with the wife (Loy) leaving the husband (Powell) over misunderstandings and some bad judgment on both parts. Powell and his lawyer come up with a solution -- act crazy to delay the divorce...but that works all too well, and Powell is committed. How he gets out, and what he goes through while in and after escaping, is where most of the belly laughs lie.

Florence Bates plays the mother-in-law from...well, not quite hell...but close to it. She was always a hoot. Jack Carson falls into being the other man; an annoying role at first, but it grew on me.

Highly recommended!

Top this Contrivance and See who's really Crazy

[jmurf1111 · 10/10 · 10 June 2014]

Sometimes I look up TCM User Reviews on a movie before I watch it... glad I didn't this time. Immediately upon seeing who the stars were, I set my DVR because I DVR anything Powell/Loy. I definitely had more fun watching it in complete ignorance of content, although I must say I almost 'paused' a bit into it to see where the heck the plot was going per the 'teaser'.

After the fun 'loving' first 15 minutes, the writers played a game of 'top this contrivance' amongst each other in penning the script. I was having so much fun chuckling at the 'seeing is believing' stuff and recognizing that anyone being told of such occurrences would, of course, respond with a 'yeah, right' that I paused to see how much time was left in the movie...happy to see 40-50 more minutes of Powell/Loy was yet to come.

The 1.40 hour movie took me about 2 1/2 hours to watch, as I replayed sections to hear what each was saying in some of the talk-over scenes, cause I knew it had to be funny, and to watch the reactions of the actors alongside the speaking actor, who we viewers usually keep our eyes on as a movie goes along instead of the background actors. I also like rewinding to watch for what I think are 'ad-libs' because unexpected reactions of individual characters playing off each other are extra FUNNY'S to catch.

You'll really enjoy the point in this movie where you're hearing Myrna testify to William's sanity as she reasonably sees it, yet it defies 'common' logic; and YET, we viewers know everything she's saying is absolutely true. Moreso, it's fabulous to always know that it is those very behaviors of William that make her, outside of anyone else alive, love him so. We watch and love her reflecting her character off of him, so often surprising us with her ability to change her chic, straight-laced behavior to goofy corny with him. It is Powell's behaviors and how Myrna reacts to them in all their movies that is really the Key to the Endearment we feel for them as a couple. NO WAY would we, their audience, have ever allowed the movie writers to take this couple away from us with a truly 'final' divorce ending.

Knowing Powell/Loy films are finite and I had seen almost all of them, I couldn't help but feel a bit of bittersweetness, wishing a young William and Myrna were still around to bring life to more well-written scripts. It's only in the last 8 months (my retirement) that I've even become familiar with the 20's, 30's and 40's comedies and all those soooooo funny actors and actresses, only of few of whom I had heard the names of, although I had not seen any of their hilarious movies. I now feel really sad for anyone who hasn't seen these old comedies where the FUNNY is driven by intelligently funny scripts, superb facial expressions, superb 'machine- gun' talking delivery, and superb physical movements (and not all pratfalls) that elicit extended laughter, constant chuckling and consistent smiling.

You'll like this movie…although you'll wish you could reach into it and grab Myrna's Mother and throw her off the porch now and then.

Divorce pending is a real drag for our thin man!

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 16 November 2016]

Thinking that her husband William Powell is cheating on her thanks to the interference of her Wagnerian mother (Florence Bates). Suspicious over a situation involving his old flame (Gail Patrick), Loy uses that to file for divorce. Trying to avoid interference in a reconciliation with Loy by the deliciously meddlesome Bates, Powell pretends to be insane to prevent the divorce from going through and then disguises himself as his own sister, adding plenty of comical mishaps, most of them involving the continuously cheery Bates who wants anything but a happy ending for her daughter and son- in-law.

Reminding me of a less obnoxious version of Ethel Merman in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", Bates could be the poster dowager for passive/aggressive monster-in-law. It's also nice to see Patrick in a light-hearted role, even if she is still playing the femme fatale. In drag, Powell looks like a modern day "Whistler's Mother", like one of the many little old ladies who got some gravity in their girdle in the "Our Gang" shorts. Jack Carson is added into the mix as the fourth party in this marital mix-up, and Toto is so cute once again as Patrick's pooch who takes a liking to Powell's puss when it's trapped in the middle of an elevator door.

There's plenty of farce to keep this moving, most memorably Powell's plight in the elevator, a throw rug that knocks both Powell and Bates on their tuchus, Powell's public display of insanity (which ends up with a delicious revenge against Bates) and the wisecracks from Powell's drag alter towards the harridan mother. While the majority of Powell and Loy's co-starring vehicles focused on the verbal funny, this focuses on the visual and makes it a delight for those who need a little farce to go with their wise-cracks. This would be the last co-starring appearance of Powell and Loy outside of the "Thin Man" films and a cameo by Loy in "The Senator Was Indiscreet".

Surprised how much this bothered me

[reelkev · 2/10 · 21 January 2021]

I love William Powell and Myrna Loy. And I see many people love this movie. But it rubbed me the wrong way. I don't like the way Myrna Loy was so easy to wanna divorce. And I found all of the mental institute seems to be outdated and insulting.