Claudia and David *** (1946, Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, Mary Astor, John Sutton, Gail Patrick, Florence Bates) – Classic Movie Review 12,356

Robert Young recalled: ‘Claudia (1942) did sensational business and Fox requested a sequel. Dorothy McGuire said she’d never do a sequel, but she was under contract to David Selznick and Claudia and David duly appeared in 1946 and was almost as big a hit.’

Director Walter Lang’s 1946 20th Century Fox black and white American comedy drama sequel film Claudia and David stars Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young, with Mary Astor, John Sutton, Gail Patrick and Florence Bates.

McGuire as child bride Claudia and Young as easy-going-till-provoked David reprise their roles as the young marrieds with problems – their child’s health, Claudia’s driving, another man (John Sutton) and another woman (Mary Astor).

This genial sitcom easily squeezes more mileage out of the set-up, the central pair still exert their charm, and the import of three of Hollywood’s most formidable ladies (Mary Astor, Gail Patrick and Florence Bates) boosts the power of the film enormously.

The story is by Rose Franken, the author of the original Broadway play Claudia that inspired 1943’s hit film Claudia.

Also in the cast are Rose Hobart, Harry Davenport, Jerome Cowan, Elsa Janssen, Frank Tweddell, Anthony Sydes, Pierre Watkin, Henry Mowbray, Clara Blandick, Eric Wilton, and Frankie Darien.

Robert Young recalled: ‘Claudia (1942) did sensational business and 20th Century Fox requested a sequel. Dorothy McGuire was aghast and said she’d never do a sequel, but she was under contract to David Selznick who simply put his foot down and Claudia and David duly appeared in 1946 and was almost as big a hit.’

The cast are Dorothy McGuire as Claudia Naughton, Robert Young as David Naughton, Mary Astor as Elizabeth Van Doren, John Sutton as Phil Dexter, Gail Patrick as Julia Naughton, Rose Hobart as Edith Dexter, Harry Davenport as Dr. Harry, Florence Bates as Nancy Riddle, Jerome Cowan as Brian O’Toole, Frank Tweddell as Fritz, Elsa Janssen as Bertha, Anthony Sydes as Bobby, Eva Novak as Maid, Pierre Watkin, Henry Mowbray, Clara Blandick, Eric Wilton, and Frankie Darien.

Dorothy McGuire (June 14, 1916 – September 13, 2001) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for Gentleman’s Agreement (1947) and won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actress for Friendly Persuasion (1956). She starred as the mother in Swiss Family Robinson (1960).

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,356

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