The Bride Came C.O.D. *** (1941, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Stuart Erwin) – Classic Movie Review 5939

The breezy and likeable 1941 romantic comedy film The Bride Came C.O.D. re-unites James Cagney and Bette Davis after their 1934 Jimmy the Gent, though it was publicised as their ‘first screen pairing’

Director William Keighley’s breezy and likeable 1941 movie The Bride Came C.O.D. belatedly re-unites James Cagney and Bette Davis after their successful pairing in Jimmy the Gent (1934), although that was so much earlier that it could be publicised as ‘the first screen pairing’ of Warner Bros’ two biggest stars.

It is a fluffy and frantic but unsubtle romantic comedy from the Epstein twins, Julius J Epstein and Philip G Epstein, the writers of Casablanca, that pleases well enough but does not quite fully do the job of delivering the wit and raising the laughs on a high level.

Davis stars as Joan Winfield, an oil heiress eloping with bandleader Allen Brice (Jack Carson) until her disapproving daddy Lucius (Eugene Pallette) charters pilot Steve Collins (Cagney) to bring her home. But then, of course Davis and Cagney find themselves thrust together in bickering banter, while they begin to fall for each other.

The public loved it, thanks to the first teaming of the two great stars since 1934, but Davis and Cagney are let down by the surprisingly lacklustre and obvious screenplay, with a plot similar to It Happened One Night, based on a story by Kenneth Earl and M M Musselman.

However, it is still well worth seeing for the on-form actors and Max Steiner’s vibrant score.

Also in the cast are Stuart Erwin, George Tobias, William Frawley, Henry Davenport, Edward Brophy, Chick Chandler, Harry Holman, Douglas Kennedy [Keith Douglas], Herbert Anderson, Creighton Hale, Jack Mower, Frank Mayo, William Newell, William Hopper, Eddy Chandler, Lee Phelps, Reid Kilpatrick, Tony Hughes and Richard Travis.

James Cagney, who wanted to change his image from gangster roles, insisted on having his brother William Cagney as the producer. They brought in Julius and Phil Epstein to ‘invigorate’ the script. Davis wanted to change her image too from serious dramas, and took the role away from Olivia de Havilland with the backing of executive producer Hal Wallis.

Principal photography took place in Death Valley, California, in January 1941, but temperatures soared, script problems were unresolved, and Davis got prickly when she fell into a cactus and had 45 quills pulled out of her bottom.

Aircraft include Aeronca, Bellanca, Cessna, Lockheed, Ryan and Waco, shot at Burbank Airport.

The Bride Came C.O.D. is directed by William Keighley, runs 92 minutes, is made and released by Warner Bros Pictures, is written by Julius J Epstein and Philip G Epstein, based on a story by Kenneth Earl and M M Musselman, is shot in black and white by Ernest Haller, produced by Hal B Wallis (executive producer) and William Cagney (associate producer), scored by Max Steiner and Leo F Forbstein, and designed by Ted Smith.

It was released on July 12, 1941 in the US.

The cast are James Cagney as Steve Collins, Bette Davis as Joan Winfield, Stuart Erwin as Tommy Keenan, Eugene Pallette as Lucius K. Winfield, Jack Carson as Alan Brice, George Tobias as Peewee Dafoe, William Frawley as Sheriff McGee, Harry Davenport as “Pop” Tolliver, Edward Brophy as Hinkle, Harry Holman as Judge Sobler, Chick Chandler as First Reporter, Douglas Kennedy [Keith Douglas] as Second Reporter, Herbert Anderson as Third Reporter, William Newell as McGee’s Pilot, William Hopper as Keenan’s Pilot, William Forrest Asst. Dist. Atty. Edwards, Creighton Hale, Jack Mower, Frank Mayo, Eddy Chandler, Lee Phelps, Reid Kilpatrick, Tony Hughes and Richard Travis.

Just look at the difference in the comparative size of the stars’ names on the two posters, eight years apart, though note that Cagney keeps his top billing.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5939

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Movie Queens (Bette Davis) by Graeme Jukes 2015.