They All Kissed the Bride

A kiss too much (OT: They All Kissed the Bride ) is an American comedy film starring Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas, directed by Alexander Hall from the year 1942.

Action

Margaret J. Drew, better known as MJ, ruled with an iron fist and without any hint of humor the inherited logistics empire Drew Industries. Your tough business methods and the ruthless dealing with subordinates are legendary. The reporter Michael Holmes eventually begins to work on a revealing story that MJ presents as a cold-hearted Egomanin without any compassion. The so bare Asked is not amused and can turn Michael shade in the hope to find his source of information. Meanwhile, take things in the house Drew a surprising turn as Vivian, the younger of the two Drew sisters, on the day of their arranged marriage with the heir of a powerful steel group, suddenly revealed that she would actually love a poor but decent petrol station manager.

Amidst the excitement and scandal, Michael and MJ face suddenly decide to hate each other at first. Many complications, misunderstandings and lessons in charity for MJ later land the two in front of a justice of the peace, to give himself tied the knot.

Background

Joan Crawford's career was controlled in a serious crisis since the end of the 1930s and it was obvious to all concerned that their time at MGM coming to an end. Studio boss Louis B. Mayer found in the English actress Greer Garson an ideal successor. In the aftermath Garson received the demanding roles such as Mrs. Miniver, Madame Curie and found years while Joan Crawford had to make do with films like When Ladies Meet and Reunion in France.

A welcome ray of light in severe downtrend therefore meant the appearance in the comedy A kiss too much. The circumstances that led to the role were, however tragic. Columbia Pictures had originally given the script for Carole Lombard in order, but immediately before the commencement was killed in a plane crash. Finally, Joan Crawford took over, which was good friends with then-husband Lombard Clark Gable for years, the commitment. As a token of their appreciation for Lombard Crawford donated her entire salary of 128,000 dollars to the American Red Cross. The filming went very harmonious and formed for a variety Crawford to tense working atmosphere at MGM. She had worked with her ​​co-star Melvyn Douglas in The Gorgeous Hussy, Burning fire of passion and the woman's face. The actress was particularly impressed by the creations that designed the costume designer Irene Lentz for them. Irene was one next to Gilbert Adrian and Travis Banton to the most important designers in Hollywood. First known it was for the costumes and especially the numerous hats and exotic headgear of Hedy Lamarr in their U.S. debut Algiers from the year 1938. Unlike the sometimes pompous models who wore Crawford at MGM, Irene preferred a line, the elegance combined with restraint.

Decades later commented positively about the experience Joan Crawford against Roy Newquist:

" My first film outside of Metro and I felt like I was in another country. But Melvyn was on hand and there was a very good script, so that everything developed very well. The title was silly, but the film itself had flair and he came over much better than anyone had thought. "

However, the financial success of A kiss brought too much no reversal in the downward trend of Crawford's career and she left in mid-1943 MGM, one and a half years later than Mildred Pierce won the Oscar for best actress in Mildred Pierce to win.

Reviews

Most reviews were positive, though occasionally the finding came the role could have been better fitted to Rosalind Russell.

T. J. wrote in his review in the New York Times unusually harsh words:

"Neither the writers nor the director nor Miss Crawford show even a hint of Sponanität in this sequence of set pieces. "

" Joan Crawford's return to the screen is done under the most agreeable sign, since they make and Columbia brilliant director Alexander Hall and the comedies in very experienced Melvyn Douglas the most out of a credited and intelligently designed script."

Sources and literature used

  • Roy Newquist (ed.): Conversations with Joan Crawford. Citadel Press, Secaucus, N. J. 1980, ISBN 0-8065-0720-9
  • Shaun Considine: Bette and Joan. The Divine Feud. Dutton, New York, 1989, ISBN 0-525-24770- X
  • Lawrence J. Quirk: The Complete Films of Joan Crawford. Citadel Press, Secaucus, N. J. 1988, ISBN 0-8065-1078-1
  • Bob Thomas: Joan Crawford. A Biography. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1978, ISBN 0-297-77617-7
  • Alexander Walker: Joan Crawford. The Ultimate Star. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1983, ISBN 0-297-78216-9
1942 in film Screenplay Film score Joseph Walker Ivan Simpson Mrs. Miniver (film) Madame Curie (film) Random Harvest (film) When Ladies Meet (1941 film) The Shining Hour Irene (costume designer) Algiers (Film)
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