I Was a Male War Bride

 

 

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20th Century Fox presents "I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE" (1949 105 min/B&W) -- Starring: Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan, Marion Marshall, Randy Stuart & Bill Neff

Directed by Howard Hawks

Howard Hawks directed this classic farce about how love attempts to triumph over military red tape after the close of World War II. Capt. Henri Rochard (Cary Grant) is a French officer who is assigned to put a stop to a black market operation in occupied Germany with the help of Lt. Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan), an American WAC. While their initial meetings are hardly harmonious, in time Rochard and Gates find that opposites really do attract, and they fall in love.

The two decide to get married, which seems simple enough, but the moment Gates receives orders to return to the United States and Rochard wants to join her, they soon discover just how complicated the U.S. Army can make things. While the Army has a strict protocol for dealing with "war brides," there is no similar routine for men who marry female Army personnel, so in order to follow his new wife into the States, Rochard has to disguise himself as a WAC. From this moment on, nearly everything that happens to Rochard is an affront to his dignity and/or his patience, from his inability to share a bunk with his new bride to his discovery that Army regulations prevent him from driving a motorcycle (Gates has to take the handlebars, while her husband is forced to ride in a sidecar).

Wonderful Direction, Wonderful Cast and Super Screenplay!

The chemistry between Grant and Sheridan is priceless, one laugh after another.

BIOS:
1. Howard Hawks Director)
Date of Birth: 30 May 1896 - Goshen, Indiana
Date of Death: 26 December 1977 - Palm Springs, California

2. Cary Grant [aka: Archibald Alexander Leach]
Date of Birth: 18 January 1904 - Horfield, Bristol, England, UK
Date of Death: 29 November 1986 - Davenport, Iowa

3. Ann Sheridan
Date of Birth: 21 February 1915 - Denton, Texas
Date of Death: 21 January 1967 - Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 105 min on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (January 6, 2004)

I saw this movie on TV for the first time a couple years ago. I have been looking for a copy of it DVD ever since. Thank goodness it's finally out.
When I saw this movie for the first time, I laughed harder than I had for any other Cary Grant movie (Or any classic movie for that matter). This movie is seriously funny and I would stack it up against any comedy by any actor to date. I will admit that it isn't Grant's best performance. He has done so many great movies that a lighthearted comedy like this isn't going to go down as another of his oscar-caliber performances. All that aside, this is a hilarious movie and well worth the purchase.
The storyline for this movie is just terrific. It gives Grant plenty of room to be flustered. Being flustered is something that Cary Grant does better than any other actor in the history of film. If you thought you had seen the best of it in "Bringing up Baby," you really need to take a look at this one. Cary Grant endures every imaginable calamity with his classic poise.
If you want to see Cary Grant endure abuse from a woman he can't stand (ie Father Goose, Bringing Up Baby) only to fall in love with her in the end, this is your movie. I know that might sound a little formulaic (especially for a Cary Grant movie) but this one is a cut above the rest. As stated before, this isn't going to be remembered as one of the greatest movies of all time, but for a movie that you can just sit down and enjoy, this is one of my favorites.

I know this film is supposed to be a classic, but I wasn't pleased with this purchase. The gags seemed obvious and tired. Cary seemed tired. This was really the beginning of his most lackluster period on screen. This and the films that followed (CRISIS, PEOPLE WILL TALK, ROOM FOR ONE MORE, DREAM WIFE, MONKEY BUSINESS were all pretty disappointing efforts).

Ann Sheridan was better in her earlier roles at Warners. She seems wasted here.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Was impressed
Everyone else covers the plot well enough. I was impressed by the quality of DVD for the price. You won't be disappointed.

Published on Jan 29 2004 by Champ

1.0 out of 5 stars CLASSIC HAWKS'S SCREWBALL IN A BEAUTIFUL NEW TRANSFER
Howard Hawk's "I Was A Male War Bride" has become a benchmark in screwball comedy. Grant plays a French officer stationed in post-war Germany, who falls for stubborn... Lisez davantage

Published on Jan 7 2004 by Nix Pix

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. and Mrs? Or Is It Mrs. and Mrs?
A good old fashioned laugh feast is guaranteed in Howard Hawk's rollicking farce set in post war Europe "I Was a Male War Bride". Lisez davantage

Published on Nov 8 2003 by Simon Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars I Was a Male War Bride
Plot: Henri is a French captain and Catherine his assistant, an American WAC. They fall in love and get married. Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 25 2003 by Chon Wang

4.0 out of 5 stars Grant and Sheridan Good Together
Cary Grant stars as a French officer looking into the black market in postwar Occupied Germany. He is assigned American officer Ann Sheridan as an assistant, a woman with whom he... Lisez davantage

Published on Feb 15 2003 by James L.

5.0 out of 5 stars A real treat!
A fantastic film that gets better with age! Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan are perfect in their roles as a French army officer and a WAC lieutenant. Lisez davantage

Published on Feb 18 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable movie
French officer Henri Rochard (Cary Grant) marries an American officer Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan) - he actually has to marry her three times - only to find that he has... Lisez davantage

Published on Sep 4 2000 by W. Priebe

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless humour
Ann Sheridan is a perfect match for Cary Grant in this romantic comedy that involves a French army officer (Grant) and an American WAC (Sheridan) who share a mission in post-WWII... Lisez davantage

Published on Aug 14 2000 by castor

5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless comedy, one of Mr. Grant's Finest comedic skits!!
A thought-provoking, Belly-aching look at life, love and marriage told during WWI. Mr. Grant's performance climaxes to the peak of hillarity when He must don a wig-made from the... Lisez davantage

Published on May 10 1999 by Tabitha Bryson (braidymoe@webt...

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