Come Live with Me *** (1941, James Stewart, Hedy Lamarr, Ian Hunter) – Classic Movie Review 7,410

MGM’s appealing 1941 romantic comedy film Come Live with Me stars Hedy Lamarr as a Viennese refugee who marries a struggling, hungry American author (James Stewart) to get US citizenship and live in America.

Producer-director Clarence Brown’s 1941 MGM romantic comedy Come Live with Me stars Hedy Lamarr as a Viennese refugee who marries a struggling, hungry American author (James Stewart) to get US citizenship and live in America. Ian Hunter co-stars as Lamarr’s rich publisher boyfriend Barton Kendrick, who unfortunately is already married.

This appealing, less well-known MGM comedy offers the undeniable attractions of pleasing stars, pleasant support, strong direction and a good production, though there is not a surprise in sight, which was just how World War Two wartime audiences wanted it. It is written by Patterson McNutt (screenplay) and Virginia Van Upp (original story).

And it is never too late: Adeline de Walt Reynolds makes a remarkable début at the age of 78 as Stewart’s mother, and she lived and acted for another 20 years.

Also in the cast are Verree Teasdale, Donald Meek, Barton MacLane, Edward Ashley, Ann Codee, Si Jenkins, Fritz Feld, Dewey Robinson, Tom Fadden, Horace McMahon [MacMahon], King Baggot, Frank Faylen, Greta Meyer and Frank Orth.

It is amazing that back in 1941 Clarence Brown’s name was big enough to help sell a movie, with both above and below the title billing on the release poster.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7,410

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