Made for Each Other **** (1939, Carole Lombard, James Stewart, Charles Coburn, Lucile Watson, Harry Davenport) – Classic Movie Review 5,915

The 1939 drama film Made For Each Other stars James Stewart and Carole Lombard as attorney John Mason and his new young wife Jane. They may be made for each other, but they couldn’t be sure of that as they married after knowing each other for just a day!

Director John Cromwell’s 1939  American romantic comedy drama film Made for Each Other from producer David O Selznick stars James Stewart and Carole Lombard as attorney John Mason and his new young wife Jane.

They may be made for each other, but they couldn’t be sure of that as they married in haste – after knowing each other for just a day!

John meets Jane during a business trip on a case in Boston, and they fall in love and marry immediately on impulse. But when they get back to New York, they face all the trials and tribulations of being newlyweds.

Then their marriage problems come in droves, what with their baby son’s near-fatal illness, their cash crisis and Lombard’s mother-in-law (Lucile Watson) from hell.

Lombard and Stewart are ideally paired and on good form in this nice, splendidly confident mix of weepie, comedy and soap opera. It is a success, thanks to the perfect playing, delicious writing by Jo Swerling (based on a story by Rose Franken) and Cromwell’s expert handling. Charles Coburn’s relishable performance as Judge J M Doolittle heads a perfect support cast.

Made for Each Other also includes Harry Davenport, Eddie Quillan, Alma Kruger, Esther Dale, Ward Bond, Louise Beavers, Irving Bacon, Raymond Bailey, Donald Briggs, Harlan Briggs, Lane Chandler, Edgar Dearing, Harry Depp, Fern Emmett, Betty Farrington, Mary Field, Fred Fuller, Ruth Gillette, Russell Hopton, Olin Howlin, Arthur Hoyt, Perry Ivins, Gladden James, Tom London, Edwin Maxwell, Tom McGuire, Carlyle Moore Jr, Jack Mulhall, Robert Emmett O’Connor, Renee Orsell, Garry Owen, Mickey Rentschler, Ivan F Simpson, Milburn Stone, Robert Strange, John M Sullivan, Jackie Taylor, Nella Walker, Ruth Weston and Harry Worth.

Writers: Jo Swerling (screenplay), Rose Franken (suggested by a story by) and (uncredited) Frank Ryan (contributor of humorous situations).

Despite the unique pairing of popular Lombard and Stewart, it lost $292,000 at the box office.

The film is now in the public domain in the US and the original film negative is owned by Disney.

Made for Each Other is directed by John Cromwell, runs 92 minutes, is made by Selznick International Pictures, is released by United Artists, is written by Jo Swerling (screenplay), Rose Franken (story) and (uncredited) Frank Ryan, is shot in black and white by Leon Shamroy, is produced by David O Selznick, is scored by Oscar Levant (uncredited), Hugo Friedhofer and David Buttolph, and designed by William Cameron Menzies.

‘Made For Each Other’ is written by Oscar Levant (music) and Harry Tobias (lyrics).

Though shot in black and white, it is also available in a computer colorised version.

The cast are Carole Lombard as Jane Mason, James Stewart as John Horace Mason, Charles Coburn as Judge Joseph M Doolittle, Lucile Watson as Mrs Harriet Mason, Eddie Quillan as Conway, Alma Kruger as Sister Madeline, Louise Beavers as Lily, Cook #3, Ward Bond as Jim Hatton, Donald Briggs as Mr. Carter, Esther Dale as Annie, Cook #1, Harry Davenport as Dr Healy, Fern Emmett as Famer’s Wife, Ruth Gillette as Tipsy Blonde at New Year’s Eve Party, Olin Howland as Farmer, Nella Walker as Dr. Langham’s Nurse-Receptionist, Milburn Stone as Newark official, Irving Bacon, Raymond Bailey, Donald Briggs, Harlan Briggs, Lane Chandler, Edgar Dearing, Harry Depp, Fern Emmett, Betty Farrington, Mary Field, Fred Fuller, Ruth Gillette, Russell Hopton, Olin Howlin, Arthur Hoyt, Perry Ivins, Gladden James, Tom London, Edwin Maxwell, Tom McGuire, Carlyle Moore Jr, Jack Mulhall, Robert Emmett O’Connor, Renee Orsell as Hilda, Cook #2, Garry Owen, Mickey Rentschler, Ivan F Simpson, Milburn Stone, Robert Strange, John M Sullivan, Jackie Taylor, Nella Walker, Ruth Weston and Harry Worth.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5,915

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