Honeymoon in Bali

Since I watched her in the Hitchcock film, "The 39 Steps (1935), I have admired Madeleine for her cool blond, sophisticated skill as an actress. "Honeymoon in Bali" was a very enjoyable film which did not telegraph its ending until the final scene, a tribute to the intelligent screenplay and writer.In some ways the plot is modern despite it being over 70 years old.There are still many career girls working in New York who are bright, but are emotionally lonely and always on the lookout for "Mr Right", I worked for an American Bank and met quite a few bright American girls in our London office (and was even propositioned by one).Madeleine Carroll is her own boss and has a highly successful well paid career and is loath to surrender it all up for a mere man!She has the sophisticated NYK accent off pat and plays her bright, intelligent and attractive self.

Love comes knocking in the shape of Fred MacMurray whom she meets in an expensive boat showroom in the heart of Manhattan.Madeleine has a best friend (Helen Broderick) who incautiously reminds her that her opera singing boyfriend (Allan Jones) has not put enough candles on the cake.The singing telegram scene is flat and without emotion despite Allan Jones giving an operatic version of "Happy Birthday".You sense Madeleine needs emotional fulfillment at this point.As to the candle discrepancy, in a bit of repartee worthy of Oscar Wilde, Madeleine retorts,"I always think one shouldn't have people around you know for too long".

Fred is the legal guardian of a little girl and asks whether Madeleine would temporarily look after her, but Madeleine must put her career first.Fred has worked in Bali and has a platonic relationship with a foreign girl who is already contemplating marriage to him.A window cleaner played by Akim Tamiroff cleans Madeleine's office windows and appears something of a philosopher who rates Fred but not Allan Jones.Gradually Madeleine becomes emotionally attached to Fred's little girl and even treks to his home in Bali when she realises she really loves him.

Although we cannot have a sad ending, in a denouement worthy of the great Jane Austen herself, the film ends leaving us with a feel-good factor, (although we are kept guessing right up to its end).A triumph for the great Madeleine Carroll sufficient to make Robert Donat really jealous!!

What a jewel to find! I bought a DVD for $1 to get a Cary Grant film, and this movie was included under the name "My Love for Yours." "Honeymoon in Bali" is a much better title. We watched it twice - the scene with the fortune teller is such fun when you know how the story line goes. Carolyn Lee as the little girl steals every scene she is in. For those of us who grew up with Fred MacMurray and "My Three Sons," this movie is a real surprise. MacMurray plays a wonderful romantic lead. The cameo appearance by Akim Tamiroff is a perfect bookend for the beginning and end of the film. The singing telegram boy is another classic moment. A film worth watching!

I have just finished watching the DVD Version of "Honeymoon In Bali" and must say that it is really good. The DVD Version was released by Passion Productions. Fred MacMurray and Madeleine Carroll, was just wonderful. anyone wishing a little romance in their lives should really enjoy this movie.

What an enjoyable piece of fluff. Though I'd say it was a bit more than a piece of fluff, really, as there is subtlety galore, and philosophy, and irreverence and some macabre/screwball humour when the love rival for Fred MacMurray says in an offhand way that she'd attempted suicide but then got married, but then found it hard to be sad when her husband was killed playing polo... That kind of humour would raise eyebrows even today! Alan Jones sings his manly heart out while wearing a pencil moustache, and Madeleine Carroll says some very clever and deep things about the nature of female independence. You can tell that the actress really thought these lines were quite wise and put a lot of feeling into them, even though the film is at pains to prove the opposite view. Likewise subtle is the fact that MacMurray is a bit of a cad, not a straightforward hero. I actually hated him for a good few minutes. The small roles are played with great skill and elan, particularly the fortune teller with her blithe, witty delivery and of course Window-cleaner philosopher Akim Tamiroff, whom I ended up applauding out loud for his sheer verve, and the comedy and character he packs into each gesture. The fly in the ointment, to this cow-poke anyway, is the truly cringeworthy little girl. Ugh! You can just see her pushy mother urging her on to become the next Shirley Temple. Sorry dear, that requires talent, not just a shrill voice and a pudgy face.

Back in the days of the New Deal, America's effort to deal with the Depression, the movies were a way of escaping your problems. Films like Honeymoon in Bali were just what people wanted to see. The women in the audience certainly envied Madeleine Carroll who got to go to Bali in pursuit of Fred MacMurray.

A similar film had been done the year before, Joy of Living, with Irene Dunne leaving New York and the theater to sail off to the South Seas with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. A nice group of songs by Jerome Kern were also in the score for Irene to sing.

Honeymoon in Bali also had some real nice singing in the person of Allan Jones. He was part of a trade with Universal studios who got the services of Bing Crosby for two of their films. Jones is only in support here, he's a rival of MacMurray for Dunne. He plays a tenor with the Metropolitan Opera and gets to sing O Paradiso from L'Africana by Meyerbeer. He also sings Happy Birthday with singing telegraph boy Bennie Bartlett.

This film is typical work for Fred MacMurray, the light leading man in many Paramount comedies. He was more often teamed with Carole Lombard during this period, but Madeleine Carroll was every bit the able substitute for Lombard. I do get the feeling that this film may have originally been written with Lombard in mind. There's also a very droll performance by Akim Tamiroff as the wise and philosophical window washer.

Honeymoon in Bali is a very nice escapist type film that still holds up well today. What woman wouldn't want to spend their lives in Bali away from the stress of civilization with Fred MacMurray.