Have been seeing quite a few films with Carole Lombard - what a talented actress, she is. Prompted by Hitchcock's only (screwball) comedy "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (1941) where Lombard was paired with Robert Montgomery - it's a lively repartee incessant - I jumped at the chance of seeing another film of hers. Thanks to cable Turner Classic Movies (TCM) programming, I was able to catch "In Name Only" (1939) where she played opposite Cary Grant and Kay Francis. Grant hardly get to be humorous or cheerful for that matter due to the character he's portraying. In fact, he had to play a man deprived of marital love, striving for a true love that kept being stumped by a vixen of a loveless wife, and he sure is convincing as a wearied man - seldom see him in such a sad-faced role.
This is a tearjerker, alright. But you can't help wanting to hang in there with the loving pair of Julie and Alec (Lombard and Grant), while Francis's Maida unrelentingly scheming to 'destroy' their hope of being together. Soap, quite so. I can't turn away but glued to the screen watching the pair's delightful encounters, wishing and hoping with them, worried with the two and Julie's daughter welfare, Julie's sister to understand and support her, just hoping Maida would 'disappear'. Alec is such a nice guy, so kind and trusting - how we wish he can see through Maida's deviousness! Julie is so patient - how long can one wait? So easy to fall into the pressures of society - what other people may think or say of you. Such entanglements. Why can't Alec's parents see through the guiles of Maida? Kay Francis' portrayal of callous Maida is insidious personified. How will this all end? Will Julie and Alec ever get to be together, ever?
Catch this brilliant soap drama directed by John Cromwell ("Made for Each Other" 1939, Lombard with James Stewart), scripted by Richard Sherman based on Bessie Breuer's novel. Music by Roy Webb complemented the mood. I fell in love with the performances of Lombard and Grant in "In Name Only." 95 minutes in B/W is quite a love story challenged, indeed.
Charles Coburn has a bit part as Grant's father in this film. To enjoy more of him, check out his performances along with the vivaciously demure Jean Arthur in director Sam Wood's "The Devil & Miss Jones" 1941, and director George Stevens' "The More the Merrier" 1943 (with Joel McCrea, too.)
