Independent Films, Film Profiles

Merrily We Live

Merrily We Live is a 1938 film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Constance Bennett, Bonita Granville, Brian Aherne, Alan Mowbray, Billie Burke, Clarence Kolb, Tom Brown, Patsy Kelly, Willie Best, Marjorie Kane, and Ann Dvorak. The film was produced by Hal Roach for Hal Roach Studios, and originally released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The movie is considered one of the greatest comedy movies of all time setting the standard for later family comedy movies and TV shows.The screenplay is by Eddie Moran and Jack Jevne. A number of critics have tried to erroneously claim similarity to the 1936 My Man Godfrey.[2]. However, there is no similarity other than the recurrent theme used many times in movies and plays past of a "forgotten man" ending up working in a rich upper class household and a comedy of manners and errors resulting. The critics conveniently forgot that Merrily We Live is a reworking of the 1930's film What a Man (similar plot and even many of the same character names). Other main story sources attributed to the screenplay story plot include both the 1924 novel The Dark Chapter; a Comedy of Class Distinctions by E.J. Rath and the play They All Want Something. The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 12 October 1926 and closed in December 1926 after 62 performances.To the chagrin of the critics, the movie was extremely successful and garnered five Oscar nominations.Butler Grosvenor (Alan Mowbray) discovers that the silver has been stolen by the latest tramp Emily Kilbourne (Billie Burke) had taken under her wing, in her latest attempt to reform fallen and destitute men, much to the exasperation of the rest of the family. Later in the morning, a new tramp Wade Rawlins (Brian Aherne) appears at the doorstep and is immediately adopted, despite the efforts of Grosvenor and Emily's daughters Geraldine "Jerry" (Constance Bennett) and Marian (Bonita Granville). Further attempts to convince Mrs. Kilborne to get rid of this latest tramp are blissfully ignored.A comedy of errors, nighttime interludes with drunken family behavior and an arrogant boyfriend, and some flirting ensues, resulting in Jerry falling in love with Wade. The new chauffeur and footman is accidentally invited to an important dinner party for Senator Harlan, who takes a liking to him, as does his daughter Minerva (Ann Dvorak). The next morning, the family finds Wade occupying the guest room. It is impossible to throw him out, as it is discovered that he is now a confidante of Senator Harlan and his daughter's target of affection. Jerry is consumed with jealousy, as she sees Minerva flirting with Wade at golf later that morning. After a fudge-making spat with Jerry, Wade takes the rest of the afternoon off.The next morning, a newspaper mistakenly reports his death, much to the shock and dismay of the family, the cook and the maid. Wade reappears, very much alive, to Jerry's immense relief.