Love Is a Headache

Gladys George is a fine leading lady of the stage. She's been in a string of flops recently. Franchot Tone is a Broadway columnist for a newspaper. Personally they like each other a lot. Professionally they fight like cats and dogs. He gets her fired from her latest show. Her idiot publicity man, Ted Healy (in his last role) has her adopt Mickey Rooney and Virginia Weidler.

And so on and so on. There are a couple of subplots, like ridiculously wealthy Ralph Morgan wanting to marry her. This movie looks like they started with the bare bones and kept adding stuff in a desperate attempt to bring it up to a length they could use. A lot of it doesn't work, especially the ending, Barnett Parker as Miss George's dull butler, and Tone's inconsistent performance.

Yet a lot of the details do work, enough to keep this working throughout. There are lots of excellent wisecracks, most of which, oddly enough, wind up in Virginia Weidler's mouth, and she delivers them well. It's a case.

"Love is a Headache" is from 1938, a short second feature that runs one hour and 15 minutes, and stars Franchot Tone, Gladys George, Mickey Rooney, and Virginia Wiedler.

Tone plays Peter Lawrence, a gossip columnist who knew one Broadway star, Carlotta (whom he calls Charlie) Lee back when they were kids. He never lets up on her, and when she takes a role in a flop show, he says the show is no good and she's making a mistake. She's about to sign a contract for another dud and is angry with Peter for writing about her in his column.

Peter also has an interest in two young kids, Mike and Jake O'Toole (Rooney and Wielder), who are now orphans after their father is killed. On his latest broadcast, he calls out for anyone who can adopt these children. Carlotta's publicist thinks will be great for her, so he arranges to have the children brought to her apartment. Meanwhile, Peter knows nothing of this, planning to thoroughly investigate anyone interested. When he finds out, he assumes this is a cheap publicity stunt.

Entertaining film, with Gladys George giving a wonderful performance as Carlotta, a dedicated performer but a woman with a heart. Rooney as the tough older brother is, as always, excellent, and as his vulnerable little sister Wiedler is excellent as well. Franchot Tone is smooth and sophisticated as Peter Lawrence.

Those were the good old days, when columnists were an important part of the Broadway and movie scenes, and many times they would broadcast their programs from nightclubs or high-end restaurants, adding some glamor. There was a fun clip of the old Times Square at the beginning of the film. Wow, times have changed.

Broadway star Carlotta Lee (Gladys George) is struggling on stage and on the gossip pages. She battles bad press even if most of it is true. Peter Lawrence (Franchot Tone) is an influencial columnist both in print and on the radio. He starts promoting the adoption of orphaned siblings Mike O'Toole (Mickey Rooney) and Jake O'Toole (Virginia Weidler). Lee's agent Jimmy Slattery (Ted Healy) suggests adopting them for the publicity.

This is a fine movie for the most part. The injection of the two veteran kids adds some good energy and plot points. I'm not saying that they saved anything. It's just that they put a nice jolt in the spine when the movie seems to need it.

After her latest Broadway play bombs, stage star Gladys George (as Carlotta "Charlie" Lee) is concerned. It's been four flops in a row for Ms. George and she needs a hit. George decides to play the lead in "Carolina" - but radio and newspaper celebrity reporter Franchot Tone (as Peter "Pete" Lawrence) thinks it will ruin her career. He hopes his "New York Chronicle" column will queer the deal. The bickering pair have been an item since their youth - or so we're led to believe. George is listening to Mr. Tone's "Broadway Chatter" radio show when he reports on the death of a window washer. Tone wants his audience to find parents for newly orphaned Mickey Rooney and Virginia Weidler (as Mike and Jake O'Toole). This turns into a convoluted publicity stunt, with George getting the kids...

George and Tone are game, but their coupling sends off no sparks. However, this film won't give you a headache - in spite of its unappealing title. Director Richard Thorpe and the MGM crew move the cast around skillfully, with George walking up toward the camera for an exit and her co-star deftly handling physical comedy. The supporting cast is not only strong, but also given opportunities to shine. Most obviously on his mark is Mr. Rooney, although he is miscast as a 13-year-old. It is surprising to see Frank Jenks (as Joe Cannon) hold his own in a film with Rooney and the adorable little Miss Weidler. After he is offered advice on reincarnation, Mr. Jenks is on a roll which lasts throughout his screen time. Also notable, this was the last film for Ted Healy; the man who gave us his "Three Stooges" died shortly before its release.

****** Love Is a Headache (1/14/38) Richard Thorpe ~ Gladys George, Franchot Tone, Mickey Rooney, Frank Jenks

This gives the superb Gladys George a good, meaty role. The plot is a bit well-worn. But she is in all her glory as a temperamental grand lady of the stage with a heart of gold. (The plot involves no drinking on her part, which is a nice change from the general typecasting her tough voice and soft manner brought.) Let's get one thing clear: The title means nothing. It seems slapped on out of desperation. What romantic title could not be called "Love Is A Headache"? From "Gone With the Wind" to "Mala Noche," with many stops in between, there could have been hundreds of movies with that title.

The supporting cast is fun. Franchot Tone is fine. Mickey Rooney and Virginia Weidler are real pros.

Though I liked this primarily because of Ms. George, I have to say that Rooney shines. He had that quality the camera loved that certain big stars had. Marilyn Monroe is one of them. When either of these two appeared in a movie's early scenes, the audience sits up and says "Whoa! Who is THIS?"