La sposa rubata

What a cute, funny movie. Even though it is obviously taken from the Broadway stage, and even though the "marriage comedy" is a dead subgenre, it's still delightful. And it's no wonder, when you learn who wrote it: Henry and Phoebe Ephron, Nora's parents. It's silly, it's fluffy, and yet, it's hilarious. With quips and long situational set-ups, it has a great blend of comedy that keeps you on your toes - and keeps you laughing the entire time.

Patricia Neal is anxiously awaiting the return of her beau, Ronald Reagan, after WWII. They've been engaged for years and are finally going to seal the deal. When Ronnie does show up, he's all hugs and kisses to Pat - but he's also anxious to see Jack Carson. They were old war buddies and he has some extremely important news to share. Jack fell in love with an English girl but was sent home before he could marry her. It turns out, Ronnie found her later and did the only thing that would allow him to bring her back with him to the States: he married her. It's in name only, of course. They're going to Reno for a quick divorce, and then Jack can marry his one true love. But with Pat's impatience, her father's (Edward Arnold) insistence, and Jack's "help", things don't go as planned. The result is a very funny comedy of errors.

There are some naughty bits that miraculously made it past the censors, like joking about how European women didn't need any more "incentive" than the choice between bars of soap or chocolate. It's an absolute time capsule of the 1940s, a time when people used expressions like "Holy Maceral!" and it was a scandal for a man to change his clothes in front of his fiancé. "What's it like west of New Jersey?" Virginia Field asks. "Republican!" Edward Arnold shouts decisively. Ah, the 1940s. Folks involved in show business will appreciate the end credits: everyone gets a curtain call, just like they would have on stage. It's very sweet. If you like this movie, check out The Voice of the Turtle, another dated but funny sex comedy.

Ronald Reagan was usually not at his best in comedy, but here he was excellent, possibly with help from director David Butler.

Some people have complained of Patricia Neal's performance, saying she didn't fit, but she was supposed to be the daughter of a rich couple and I thought she was perfect. In fact, I liked her better as Mary than as any other character I've seen.

Jack Carson could have been toned down a little; on the other hand, Wayne Morris gave one of his best performances, with just the right shading.

Oh, and Paul Harvey (NOT the radio announcer), as the general, was utterly charming, one of his best roles and performances out of hundreds. Interestingly, one of his first movie roles was as a colonel.

The whole cast, in fact, was great.

The story was cute, and there were some really funny moments, although I was fidgeting occasionally when it seemed on-screen delays were about to get everybody caught and in worse trouble.

That problem came from the stage origin. It didn't work perfectly in this film adaptation, but, heck, how much in life is perfect? All in all, "John Loves Mary" is a very good movie, with wonderful players in a generally enjoyable script. I recommend it.

Patricia Neal in her screen debut is "Mary" and she loves "John," played by Ronald Reagan in this lightweight comedy, "John Loves Mary." She expects him home from service any day and wants the moment when he sees her to be just right, with "Someone to Watch Over Me" playing. But things are never that easy. Not with fellow serviceman Jack Carson involved. Jack did save his life once. Therefore, Ronnie felt indebted to him. But an attempt to help Jack out with his love life backfires on Ronald and he and Patricia have to wait to get married due to him being married to Jack's foreign girlfriend to bring her into the country. But it seems that upon meeting Jack, he learns that, despite the fact that Jack couldn't live without her, he had married someone else since then. What a pickle! Ronnie is trying to keep all this from Patricia and her politician father, played Edward Arnold. I saw this almost twenty years ago and I thought I had memories of liking it. But upon seeing it recently, I found this to be too stagy, due to its play origins, too silly, and a little annoying at times. One would probably like this for the people in it, but the situations feel forced to me and I really didn't find it to be that funny. In fact, afterwards I felt that it wasted the stars and it was all a to-do over nothing, despite the affable dispositions of Ronnie and company.

I really like this movie. It is just one of those that is fun to watch . . . and re-watch.

Ronald Reagan and Jack Carson are hilarious together. They both are on the edge of a nervous breakdown throughout the story because of all of the trouble they've gotten themselves into. One lie leads to another and their troubles get bigger and bigger.

I think that Patricia Neal does a good job in this role. I think that she was a great actress but I'm not sure that this was the best role for her. The movie was originally planned for Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan together but when the Reagans split up, the part of Mary was given to Patricia Neal.

When I come across people who have not seen any of Ronald Reagan's movies, I think of this one. He does a great job with this comedy.

I hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I do.

Even at a much younger age, PATRICIA NEAL looked too smart, strong-willed and intelligent to play flighty feminine leads in the kind of wacky romantic comedies the Warner studio was used to churning out. She looks almost ill at ease in a role which calls for a bright-eyed ingenue like Joan Leslie who would have been ideal for this sort of thing.

But the rest of the cast has a high time playing the hi-jinks of a script based on Norman Krasna's Broadway play. Jack Carson is especially able as the sort of lovable dumb guy (with those great double takes that he specialized in) caught up in a situation involving a British woman (Virginia Field) who is supposed to be coming to the states to marry him. When the arrangements are delayed, he meets and marries someone else without telling her. She finally makes it to the states and he and pal Ronald Reagan get caught up in a series of lies that complicate Reagan's relationship with fiance Patricia Neal.

Of course, all of the misunderstandings could have been cleared up if someone just told the truth--but then there would be no picture.

Edward Arnold as a pompous senator (was there any other kind?) and Wayne Morris as a serviceman friend hired to help deceive everyone are both experts in this kind of farce. Kathleen Alexander does a nice job as Arnold's patient wife.

Patricia Neal would have to wait awhile before Warners found some suitable roles for her--but this film debut was almost successful despite the obvious miscasting.