Folie douce

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.