Married Bachelor

"Married Bachelor" from 1941 is a light comedy, nothing special, and typical of the era. It sports an attractive, charming cast: Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Felix Bressart, and Lee Bowman.

Young is Randolph Haven, who won't take a decent job and as a result drives his wife Norma (Hussey) nuts. They're crazy about one another, but Norma is tired of his schemes and wants him to get a 9 to 5 job.

Randolph, always looking for easy money, starts working with a bookie. But a dark horse comes in and they owe $17,000 to someone who, if he doesn't get the money, will have them measured for cement suits.

While going to people who owe the bookie money, Randolph meets a professor (Bressart) who has written, but never published, dozens of books. Randolph takes one, "The Psychology of Marriage," supposedly written by the bachelor professor. It's published, a big hit, and Randolph has to pretend he's not married.

Well, the whole thing gets mixed up. Norma feels as if she's fallen through the cracks, and when the publisher (Lee Bowman) acts interested, for spite, she flirts with him. All very platonic, of course. He doesn't know she's married to Randolph.

Ruth Hussey and Robert Young worked together several times, the last time on an episode of Marcus Welby in 1971. They made a wonderful couple. They were not first tier MGM stars, but they did good work there. The rest of the cast- Bowman, Sheldon Leonard, and especially Felix Bressart, provide solid support.

I'll take issue with one thing posted here. One of the comments was that the poster didn't know how anyone could choose Robert Young over Lee Bowman. Uh, this wasn't a reality show called Wives Who Cheat. When a woman is in love with and committed to her husband, there is no choosing; she doesn't drop her husband because someone else might be better looking. I grew up in the '50s and have a soft spot for Robert Young anyway.

Robert Young is a confidence man, always fleeing from a disgruntled mark. Wife Ruth Hussey thinks he should get an office job, so he does: a bookie office in partnership with Sam Levene. A loss of $17,000 to Sidney Sheldon leaves them scrambling from unpaid money. Unsuccessful author Felix Bressart lets them have his manuscript, which Young flogs to publisher Lee Bowman as a bachelor's look at marriage, passing off Young as the author. It's a hit, and the money starts to flow. But his marriage collapses.

It's one of those attempts at screwball that MGM made in this period that doesn't bear think about.... except for the comedy bits. The sequence in which Young is translating between slangy Sheldon and formal Bressart is very funny; other bits keep it going throughout. Miss Hussey's Myrna Loy imitation is very evident at several points.

Randolph Haven (Robert Young) and his wife Norma (Ruth Hussey) are happily married but with money troubles. He starts working with a bookie. They lose a big bet and need quick money. They collect from a professor but all he has is his manuscript, "The Psychology of Marriage". Randolph sells the book and gets paid. The only problem is that he has to play the part of the bachelor author and hide his marriage.

A better concept may be the married couple are also petty scammer couple together. Norma should always be working with Randolph. She would only get jealous after women come after his bachelor self. They need more time together. As it stands, it's functional as a comedic satire but the relationship drama needs a bit of work.

The movie, once it gets going, is chic and amusing. Robert Young is good and Ruth Hussey, as always, is appealing. Lee Bowman is a good foil for Young, though it's difficulty to believe that anyone would choose Young over him.

The central premise is funny: A married man (Young) has to pretend he is a bachelor to pay off debts by playing a Hip Mr. Lonelyhearts. Wife Hussey gets lost in the shuffle and Bowman innocently tries to move in.

Sam Levene is amusing as Young's sidekick, who speaks with Yiddish inflections. But another broadly written part almost sinks this: the supposedly humorous gangster who wants his money or else. By this time criminals had been amply portrayed to the public so that this was not a laughing matter.

On absolutely the other hand is Felix Bressart. Young uses his book on marriage to become a celebrity, claiming himself as author. Bressart, third-billed here, gives a nuanced and utterly charming performance. It seems as if his character belongs in another, much better, movie.

Released in nyc JUST before Pearl Harbor, i can't image this was too successful. Then released in Britain, a month later. And it's a weird, wacky plot. Randolph Haven (Young) owes some shady characters a whole lot of money. And pretends to be an author to stall for time. The catch: he has to write a book about marriage, from a bachelor's point of view. (who would read such a book??) when his real wife starts following the advice in the book, things get complicated! Co-stars Felix Bressart as the Professor. Sheldon Leonard as rough guy Branigan, who wants his money pronto. Randolph's wife is played by Ruth Hussey (nominated for Philadelphia Story). Trivia claims that six minutes were cut out... interesting. The role of "Waiter" says scenes deleted. And... keep an eye out for Hal LeSueur. Was Joan Crawford's brother; died young at 59. He was one of the guys fighting for the table in the diner. Directed by Ed Buzzell. It's pretty good. It's all kind of wacky and zany.