Forsaking All Others

Never Marry the first time (OT: Forsaking All Others) is an American feature film starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery in the lead roles. The film is a good example of the excellent production values ​​that were MGM available.

Action

Mary Clay, daughter of a wealthy family, is just about to marry the millionaire Dillon Todd, whom she already loved from childhood. Just hours before going to the altar comes Jeff Williams, Mary's best friend back from Europe, where he has earned a lot of money. Jeff, who loves Mary secretly for years wants to make her a proposal of marriage. He rushes to the stately estate of Clays and finds the house in excitement. As Mary bring him the news, Jeff is hurt emotionally, but is silent about his feelings so as not to spoil her day. He sends Mary secretly a huge bouquet of cornflowers and assures their eternal friendship. At the moment bursts in the news that Dillon had eloped with a showgirl. Both got married in Atlantic City. Deeply affected Mary moved with her aunt Paula back to the luxurious property in the Hamptons to get over there about the betrayal of Dillon.

After a few weeks Jeff believes his chances circumstances good to finally make Mary the desired application. He wants to just open, proclaimed as Aunt Paula, Dillon would be single again and he would regret his mistake deeply. Mary invites him immediately, to spend the weekend with her. Jeff holds Mary before, childish and immature to behave and just a good thrashing with a hairbrush would help to bring them to their senses. Mary continues through all concerns away, and things take their course. Dillon compromised Mary, both want to burn out when Mary finally realizes who she really loves. She hurries after Jeff and communicates with a hairbrush in her hand in front of his door. Both eventually marry.

Background

Joan Crawford was yet at silent film days as a performer exuberant girl called Flapper in a series of light romances to fame. At the beginning of 1930 she was able to consolidate its status as a star by the role change towards heroine tearful melodramas. Most Crawford was seen as an ambitious woman who copes with the adverse circumstances under its own power, thus creating the social advancement and / or won by obstinacy her happiness with a man against any prejudice.

After 1933, the actress specializing in the representation of wealthy women who experienced the romantic entanglements between two men and in the end finds true happiness, preferably in the arms of Clark Gable. Never Marry the first time is like the other two films of the actress of 1934, Sadie McKee and produced in gold chains, a typical example of this with much effort movies. Crawford lived through the emotional crisis in a never-ending succession of spectacular costumes of MGM chief designer Gilbert Adrian with ever- changing hairstyles and most opulent studio backdrops, all of which were designed by Cedric Gibbons. The camera work lends the scenes by the MGM preferred soft skylight in a luxurious, soft drawn aura of prosperity and solidity. The high value of Joan Crawford in the internal studio hierarchy shows itself in the fact that her two of the most popular male stars of MGM are placed on the page with Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery.

The actress rückblicklend assessed the value of the undertaking realistic:

" [ It ] was not a particularly good movie, but Clark was back with it, and Bob Montgomery. Insignificant, but pleasant. "

Theatrical Release

The film came in the national rental on December 23, 1934. A budget of 392,000 U.S. dollars made ​​from Marry never the first time an average of expensive MGM production. The film played in the U.S. with 1,399,000 U.S. dollars a very considerable sum, an, indication of the continuing high wide popularity of Joan Crawford with her ​​fans was. With foreign revenue of $ 800,000 and a cumulative total profit of 2.199 million U.S. dollars, the studio was able to realize a high profit of 1.132 million U.S. dollars at the end. Never Marry the first time, becoming the most financially successful film of Crawford until then.

Reviews

Most critics were sympathetic to the Stars.

The industry magazine Variety was found in his review done by the lead actress. :

"Miss Crawford is one of their best displays. You will always remain credible. The Ironically - moralizing that often characterizes their films, is largely absent here. The film offers basically just another variation of the eternal love triangle. "

The lexicon of the International film calls the film even at a distance of several decades

" A fast-paced romantic comedy full of slapstick elements, the playful entertainment. "

Sources and literature used

  • Roy Newquist (ed.): Conversations with Joan Crawford. Citadel Press, Secaucus, N. J. 1980, ISBN 0-8065-0720-9.
  • Lawrence J. Quirk: The Complete Films of Joan Crawford. Citadel Press, Secaucus, N. J. 1988, ISBN 0-8065-1078-1.
  • Alexander Walker: Joan Crawford. The Ultimate Star. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1983, ISBN 0-297-78216-9.
1934 in film W. S. Van Dyke Screenplay Joseph L. Mankiewicz Film score Herbert Stothart George J. Folsey Gregg Toland Tom Held Robert Montgomery (actor) Charles Butterworth (actor) Chained (1934 film) Winners of the Wilderness Trader Horn (1931 film) Guilty Hands Tarzan the Ape Man (1932 film) Eskimo (Film) Manhattan Melodrama Hide-Out Rose Marie (1936 film) San Francisco (1936 film) Marie Antoinette (1938 film) Sweethearts (1938 film) Bitter Sweet (1940 film)
299633
de