Misbehaving husbands

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Movie
Original title Misbehaving husbands
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1940
length 65 minutes
Rod
Director William Beaudine
script Vernon Smith
Claire Parrish
production Jed Buell
camera Arthur Reed
cut Robert Crandall
occupation

and Franklyn Farnum (no mention)

Misbehaving Husbands is an American comedy film in black and white 1940 film was directed from the year William Beaudine . The screenplay was written by Vernon Smith and Claire Parrish based on a story by Cea Sabin. The main roles were played by Harry Langdon and Betty Blythe .

action

Henry and Effie Butler are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. Henry only thinks of his department store. Effie tells him that her friend Grace Norman has recently divorced, but Henry only understands this after repeating it several times. Your references to the wedding day escape him completely. Later that day, Effie visits Grace. There she meets Gilbert Wayne, Grace's divorce lawyer, and invites him and Grace to the planned celebration on the occasion of the wedding anniversary. Henry is surprised in his office that it is already seven in the evening. He wants to go home, but is stopped by one of his department heads. For a while, the two discussed the display in a shop window. To make his point of view clear, Henry lays a mannequin in a bed and adjusts the position of her clothes. He is observed by a friend of Effie's, but she does not recognize that it is a mannequin. After the discussion, Henry wanted to try another position for the doll, but stumbled in the process, causing clearly visible damage to the doll's face. He is already missing at the party, so Effie sends the butler Memphis to look for Henry. Shortly afterwards, she hears the rumors spread by her friend at the party about Henry's infidelity.

Henry has decided that the mannequin has to be repaired that night. While he is taking her to be repaired, he is watched by a couple who believe he has murdered a woman and report him to the police. Shortly after handing over the doll, Henry is arrested; the police find a shoe and a garter belt in his car. The new Memphis will also be kept there. The matter is not cleared up until late at night and the two are released. When they get home, the party is over. Henry behaves suspiciously and tries to hide the shoe and the garter that he has in his jacket pockets. Effie catches him doing it and feels betrayed. When she mentions this to Grace the next day, she persuades her to get a divorce and calls Gilbert Wayne over. He is vigorously promoting the divorce. Soon Henry and Effie meet with their lawyers. Henry loses his temper with anger, which is why Wayne classifies him as a brutal husband. Since neither Effie nor Henry want to move out, it is decided to bring two confidants into the house who should confirm that Henry and Effie no longer live together. The two witnesses, Jane Forbes for Effie and Bob Grant for Henry, agree to bring the couple back together. Wayne also sends the private detective Gooch Mulligan to Effie's protection in the apartment.

When Wayne visits the Butlers a few days later, he finds the atmosphere there too good and persuades his friend Nan Blake to pretend to be Evelyn, Henry's lover and owner of the shoe. Effie leaves the house angry and goes to another party at Grace's. Henry leaves shortly after - he'll get drunk. Jane and Bob, however, find the matter suspicious and look for this Evelyn. When they find her, she throws Wayne out angrily because he doesn't want to go dancing with her and says he has to go to Grace's celebration for professional reasons. Bob asks Nan about the shoe and convicts her of the lie, whereupon she confesses everything. Bob, Jane, and Nan then go to the police, where it is discovered that Wayne has destroyed marriages for profit under various names in several states and secured a portion of the wives' severance pay. Jane mentions the party, which he and Effie have already left. When the two arrive at the Butler's house, Wayne is arrested. Nan explains to Effie what happened and apologizes for it. Effie is largely reconciled but still wondering where the shoe came from. This is answered when Henry, who in his intoxication had decided to bring the mannequin home, falls down a flight of stairs with it. Effie and Henry's marriage is saved.

production

Occupation and technical staff

Misbehaving Husbands was to be the comeback of former silent film star Harry Langdon . In addition, he was given another star from the silent film era with Betty Blythe . According to Variety , producer Jed Buell wanted to bring out more films starring Langdon and Blythe as a couple.

Gig Young made his film debut in Misbehaving Husbands . He performed here under his maiden name Byron Barr. Ralph Byrd was very successful at the time as the detective Dick Tracy .

George van Marter designed the film structures.

Filming for Misbehaving Husbands began in early November 1940.

Premiere

Misbehaving Husbands premiered on December 20, 1940. A performance in the German-speaking area could not be proven. The film was distributed by the Producers Releasing Corporation .

reception

Reviews

Misbehaving Husbands was judged rather or even very negatively by the critics. However, there have also been positive reviews. The film was described as an absurd comedy drama, it was mostly played miserably, implausible, poorly presented and haphazardly staged, wrote Variety . You have seen them many times, but it is questionable whether it has ever been made so bland, so Variety. Leonard Maltin also judged it to be the bottom drawer . The story is actually just material for a short film, according to Hal Erickson in the All Movie Guide . Even movie Daily did not find unusual, but more amusing situations. On the positive side of Film Daily , the story was entertaining enough to more than please any audience. The script is good.

Harry Langdon is mostly judged positively. He plays his role with finesse and shows that he can still wear a movie, says Erickson. He could show his comedic skills, said Film Daily , his lively portrayal, along with Betty Blythe's return to Hollywood as a promising actress, was the only positive thing about the film, was the opinion of Variety. Maltin said it was painful to watch two aging leading characters battle for careers.

Criticism of the morale of the film

The prominent film censor Joseph Breen initially rejected the film because it portrays the sanctity of marriage negatively and sees funny sides to adultery. The Catholic National Legion of Decency also criticized the film for portraying divorce as acceptable.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Hal Erickson : Misbehaving Husbands (1944). In: AllMovie . Retrieved March 24, 2019 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e f Misbehaving Husbands (1940). In: American Film Institute . Retrieved March 24, 2019 .
  3. ↑ a b c Misbehaving Husbands . In: Variety . January 15, 1941, p.  14, 16 (English, online at Archive.org [accessed March 24, 2019]).
  4. ^ A b Leonard Maltin: Leonard Maltin Ratings & Review. In: Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 24, 2019 .
  5. ↑ a b c “Misbehaving Husbands” with Harry Langdon and Betty Blythe . In: Harrison's Reports . February 8, 1941, p.  23 (English, online at Archive.org [accessed March 24, 2019]).
  6. ↑ Misbehaving Husband . In: The Film Daily . December 12, 1940 (English, online at Archive.org [accessed March 24, 2019]).
  7. ↑ Decency Legion condemns objectionable advertising . In: Motion Picture Herald . June 6, 1942 ( online at Archive.org [accessed March 24, 2019]).