Movie Reviews: And So They Were Married (United States, 1936)


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'And so they were married' begins in a ski resort. The standard synopis 'two single parents get married despite their bratty kids efforts to stop them" sums up the plot. The acting is a bit sappy, but is a kind of fun film. The two main characters have 9-10-year old kids. The plot is a disappointed widow and a irritated widower find themselves stuck in a ski resort that has only two guests because of a snowstorm. Both have had it with marriage, but despite an inauspicious start fall for each other. Their children get off to an even rockier start. Edith Fellows is played by Brenda Farnham. She is the best performer. , but I don't recall seeing her in alot of films. Actually while never a star, she did have usually small roles in quite a number of films. This is here most important role. Jackie Moran is played by Tommy Blake, a much better known child actor. They start out determined to breakup the budding romance of their parents. Then they decided to get them back together. Edith wears skirts anf long stockings as well a ski outfits. She winds up getting Jackie's spankings because she is wearing pants. Jackie tells her, "Serves you right for wearing pants." Jackie wears ski clothes as well as a long pant suit with a sports collars. A third boy, Horace played by Douglas Scott appears. Jackie makes fun of him for wearing short pants. He is more formally dressed with a short pants suit, tie, and knee socks.

Filmology

We would describe 'And so they were married' as a B film. The two stars, however, often appeared in mpre important films. I doubt that Mary Astor considered this her best film, but it has some laugh out loud moments in it.

Location

This foursome is vacationing over the Christmas holidays at a ski lodge near Los Angeles.

Chronology

The film was shot in a contemorary setting, meaning 1936.

Cast

Mary Astor and Melvyn Douglas, two important actors, play widowed parents, each with one child. Mary Astor is Brenda's mother and Melvin Douglas in Tommy's father. Brenda is played by 12-year old Edith Fellows, and 12-year old Jackie Moran plays Tommy. Brenda is the best performer. , but I don't recall seeing her in alot of films. Actually while never a star, she did have usually small roles in quite a number of films. This is here most important role. Jackie is a little better known child actor. A third boy, Horace played by Douglas Scott appears. Jackie Moran in several scenes looked so frightened by the notion of a step mother making him into a little gentleman, something like a Horace clone. We could only wonder if Horace himself had turned over a new leaf.

Plot

'And so they were married' begins in a ski resort. The standard synopis 'two single parents get married despite their bratty kids efforts to stop them" sums up the plot. The acting is a bit sappy, but is a kind of fun film. The two main characters have 9-10-year old kids. The plot is a disappointed widow and a irritated widower find themselves stuck in a ski resort that has only two guests because of a snowstorm. Both have had it with marriage, but despite an inauspicious start fall for each other. Their children get off to an even rockier start. Brenda and Tommy first meet as she is building a snowman. Tommy, walking by with his sled, can't resist a bit of mischief: he began spitting BB's at he snowman. One thing leads to another, and Tommy and his sled crash in to the snowman, As the two youngsters have a small brawl in the snow, their parents approach and put an end to it. If their children took an instant dislike to each other, the parents fell instantly for each other. Brenda and Tommy want their parents all to themeselves, and they make a truce long enough to work together to sabotage these marital plans. Brenda's mom said she could use a father's discipline, and Tommy's dad said that ladies make gentlemen of us men. The very thought of that prospect filled Tommy with wide-eyed, open-mouthed fear. So they start out determined to breakup the budding romance of their parents. Then they decided to get them back together. The kids want their parents to believe that if they were to marry, the kids would be fussing and fighting constantly with each other. So, they put their heads together and come up with some ideas to discourage marital notions. Back at the lodge, Brenda pushes Tommy down a staircase bannister, causing Tommy to land loudly at their parents feet. The thud must have surprised Brenda because she asked if he was all right. A nosy woman began cooing about how Brenda was just like a little mother to Tommy - a remark that earned her looks of disgust from both kids. Another witness to this scene was Horace, played by ten-years old Douglas Scott. Horace is quite a little gentleman with well combed, neat hair and wearing a medium colored, double-breasted short pants suit with very long shorts and knee socks. Brenda and Tommy shooed Horace away, but he catches up with them and announes to Tommy that it was Brenda who pushed him. By the way Horace's grammar is perfect, and he speaks with an upper-class British accent. Tommy retorted, "what's it to you?" Tommy then looked at Horace's knees, laughed, and said to Brenda, "look at those pants!" Brenda and Tommy laugh heartily, then for some reason change their tune and ask Horace if he wants to have some fun. Horace answered. "maybe I would, and maybe I wouldn't," but he had no chance to find out. His domineering mother came along calling his name and telling him that she wanted him to scrub his hands thoroughly. Tommy said, "yeah, Hor--ace, and put on some perfume, too!" Horace protests, but his mom drags pulls him away by the shoulders. Tommy and Brenda erupted in more laughter. Horace made three more appearances. At dinner Tommy and Brenda launched another strike on their parents' budding romance. Tommy spit BB's at almost everyone at the dinner table. Horace took the blame, however, probably hoping that would unnerve his mother. The next time we see Horace, though, he's on the ski slope (in cap, heavy sweater, and long ski pants) sporting a black eye, courtesy of Tommy. Horace's last scene came during an uproarious evening of song around a huge Christmas tree at the lodge. Tommy and Brenda, back to their old tricks, begin to fight with each other, then pelt each other with ornaments they take from the tree. Horace in a plaid flannel bathrobe and standing at the top of the stairs, pulls ornaments from the tree, firing them all around and causing the lights to go out througout the lodge. At the end of the film, Brenda and Tommy realize their parents are lonely without a mate and work to bring them together. Contrary to the title, they weren't married in the film, but we assume that they will set a date soon.

Costuming

Edith wears skirts and both long stockings and ankle socks as well a ski outfits. The dresses were standard, but by the 1920s you don't see very many girls wearing long stockings in films with contemorary settings. She winds up getting Jackie's spankings because the lights went out and she is wearing pants. Jackie tells her, "Serves you right for wearing pants." Tommy wears contemporary clothing of shirt and sweater combinations and long pants. except in the outdoor scenes where he is clad in heavy pants, a winter coat and sweater, and a dark 'watch cap'. Jackie wears ski clothes as well as a long pant suit with a sports collar. Horace is more formally dressed with a short pants suit, tie, and knee socks. Jackie makes fun of him for wearing short pants. This often occurred in Americn films. Boys playing spoiled rich kids were commonly costumed in short pants suits or other outfits like Fauntleroy suits. This is interesting because in 1936, short pants suits were still somewhat common, but most school age boys wore knickers or long pants.







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Created: 4:18 AM 4/13/2011
Last updated: 4:18 AM 4/13/2011