William Powell (2)Critiques

“He thinks everyone ought to live in a trailer. He calls it the covered wagon of the future.”

Double Wedding was one of the most unusual outings for William Powell and Myrna Loy, and proved to be one of their best. While Loy is as cute as usual, it is Powell whose charm and wit is on full display here, in a brilliant performance. Based on a Molnar play, this Jo Swerling script is full of sophisticated fun, making for the perfect romantic comedy. It starts out with charm and builds to a near frantic screwball comedy of romance; a wild scene in and outside a camping trailer near the end is a sheer joy to behold.

Powell is spectacular as Charlie Lodge. He lives in a trailer and paints and has ideas. His latest one involves Irene (Florence Rice) starring in a movie he’s writing. But Irene has a stuffy sister none too pleased at Irene’s pursuits, because they are a distraction from the wedding she has planned for Irene and her spineless beau, Waldo (John Beal). Myrna Loy is the successful sister Margit, and Charlie is immediately taken with her. She finds his happy-go-lucky lifestyle and plans for Irene ruffling her feathers, but when Irene attempts to make the timid Waldo jealous, by telling Margit she is really in love with Charlie, he plays along to spend more time wearing down the staid walls of one Margit!

Powell was a deft genius at this type of comedy and is magnificent here. Loy is cute and finally has some wonderful moments in a madcap conclusion reminiscent of a famous scene from a Marx Brothers’ comedy. Wonderful also is Charlie Chan himself, Sidney Toler. He is Margit's butler, but also a former detective. His following Charlie around is a sheer delight, filled with veiled references to Charlie Chan. The film itself is beautifully presented. Cedric Gibbons’ sets are a glossy standout as so often was the case in MGM productions from this period.

Though this film is billed as sheer fun, and it certainly is, it has to be noted that it contains what I believe is one of the sweetest and most charmingly romantic moments between the couple ever shot. It occurs while they are having dinner on a table outside Charlie’s trailer, deep in the woods. A delightful film for Powell and Loy fans, and classic film buffs in general.

Waldo and Irene have been living with Margit for the four years that they have been engaged. Margit has planned the wedding and the honeymoon - in fact, Margit plans everything down to what they will have for breakfast every day. The only problem is that Waldo is a milquetoast and Irene does not want to be married to a milquetoast. So she says she is in love with Charlie, a bohemian artist/producer who lives in a trailer behind Spike's Place. When Margit confronts Charlie about giving up Irene, Charlie sees that she is the one for him. To make everyone happy, Charlie will have to help Waldo get a backbone. Written by Tony Fontana (IMDb)½