A Box of Chocolates in Black and White

It's not as serious as it looks.

Relationships in the 21st Century are complex, and they say love is elusive. But in the romantic comedies of the 1930s and '40s, things were a little simpler. And funnier. (And not so serious.)

These films were a platform for boy-meets-girl or society-dame-vs.-regular-guy plots that invariably included one or both parties being at odds with each other at first, but ending up in the clinch after a series of pratfalls, embarrassing moments, and screwball situations that poked holes in the conventions of the times.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I'm just in time for Valentine’s Day with this latest post. Let's say I’ve pulled together a little box of chocolates that represent seven of these films, just a mere fraction of the many delightful romantic comedies made during the period. Some are bonafide classics, others are lesser-known, but they are all worthwhile for their terrific performances, memorable situations, clever dialogue, and optimistic tone.

Clark and Claudette
thumb for a ride.

“It Happened One Night” (1934)
Claudette Colbert is a spoiled rich girl who’s running away from an arranged marriage. Clark Gable is the skeptical, hard-nosed reporter forced by his editor to cover her story. At first they can’t stand each other, but during a cross-country bus trip full of funny complications, they fall in love. This enchanting film was the first to sweep the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Actor, Actress and screenplay.

“Bringing Up Baby” (1938)
My all-time favorite movie gets funnier every time I see it. Cary Grant plays an absent-minded paleontologist in search of a missing dinosaur bone. Katharine Hepburn is the free-wheeling, fast-talking heiress who, along with her feisty wire-haired terrier and docile pet leopard, practically ruins Grant’s plans to acquire $1 million from her wealthy aunt. This screwball comedy, full of nutty characters, moves at breakneck pace with one anarchically hilarious scene after another.

Fred and Madeleine
being beautiful together.

“Honeymoon in Bali” (1939)
Boy meets girl in this romantic comedy, in which Fred MacMurray chases single mom Madeleine Carroll, with hot competition coming from a snobby aristocrat. MacMurray and Carroll make a captivating team in this sweet-natured and leisurely-paced little movie. Made in a year that generated some of Hollywood’s biggest classics, it has been unjustly overlooked.

“The Philadelphia Story” (1940) 
Spoiled high society girl Katharine Hepburn is preparing to get married again when her ex-husband (Cary Grant) pops up. Meanwhile, an inquisitive tabloid reporter (James Stewart) arrives with his photographer girlfriend (Ruth Hussey) to cover the upper-crust wedding and becomes infatuated with the bride-to-be, causing consternation from the groom-to-be (John Howard). More sophisticated than some screwball farces of the time, this film glimmers with wit and reminds me of a fast-forwarded Jane Austen comedy of manners. (Although maybe that would be an insult to Philip Barry, the man who wrote the play on which the film is based.) The three stars, who are all great, get fun support from Roland Young as randy Uncle Willie and Virginia Weidler as Kate’s precocious little sister Dinah.

Carole and Bob's sexual chemistry
was quite fun to watch.

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (1941)
When Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard find out that their marriage isn’t legal, they decide to try life without each other. But because they’re still in love, they do everything they can to sabotage each other’s attempts to meet new people. This chic comedy was directed by none other than Alfred Hitchcock; but while he demonstrates a light touch throughout, there is definitely a dark undertone to the story that's accentuated by the rich cinematography. The film co-stars Gene Raymond and the always fun Jack Carson. (Side note: Montgomery was the father Elizabeth Montgomery of “Bewitched” fame.)

Jimmy and Bette together again.

“The Bride Came C.O.D.” (1941)
Bette Davis wasn’t known for her comedic abilities, but in this fast-paced romp, she stars as a spoiled girl hijacked to a deserted Death Valley ghost town by down-to-earth pilot James Cagney. He knocks her down a few pegs, and deservedly so. In the process, she decided she likes him better than the pompous band leader to whom she’s engaged. It’s not a great movie, and echoes "It Happened One Night," but it's still fun to see Davis in a harmless bit of romantic whimsy. As stalwart Warner Bros. contract players, she and Cagney had dynamite chemistry.

“The More the Merrier” (1943)
It's wartime in Washington, DC, so a government worker (Jean Arthur) agrees to rent out part of her apartment to a retiree (Charles Coburn). She’s extremely organized, and insists on keeping a tight schedule so they’ll stay out of each other’s way. But complications ensue when the old guy invites a highly attractive sergeant (Joel McCrea) to also stay rent the cramped apartment. At first she's outraged by his presence, but it doesn’t take long for sparks to fly. The scene on the front steps between McCrea and Arthur may be one of the most subtly, comically sexy ever committed to film.

Even if you’re not a fan of Valentine’s Day (I’m not), you can still get a kick out of a few films that do two things that Hollywood in the 1930s and early '40s did very well: romance (however idealized) and comedy (sophisticated, low brow, or a combination of the two). Get a taste of kisses and pratfalls and enjoy.