When You’re in Love is a 1937 American musical film directed by Robert Riskin and Harry Lachman, starring Grace Moore and Cary Grant. The plot revolves around an acclaimed classical singer, Louise Fuller (played by Grace Moore), who hires a Vagabond American artist, Jimmy Hudson (portrayed by Cary Grant), to marry her so she can regain entry to the United States. The film feature songs like "Minnie the Moocher" and "Siboney," with additional numbers by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields.
The movie received mixed reviews, with some critics like Graham Greene criticizing Grace Moore's acting as not fitting well with the comedic plot and writing. Despite this, the film has been described as charming and entertaining, deserving a wider audience. Louise Brooks also makes a brief appearance in the film as one of many ballet dancers in a musical sequence.
Plot
The plot of When You’re in Love revolves around an Australian opera star, Louise Fuller (Grace Moore), who is awaiting her quota number in Mexico to return to the United States. When her number is delayed, she decides to marry an American so she can quickly return to the U.S. She chooses Jimmy Hudson (Cary Grant), a vagabond artist who is also stuck in Mexico and interested in painting what pleases him. Hudson agrees to marry Fuller in exchange for $2,000, which allows her to return to New York to resume her opera career. The film is based on an original idea by Ethel Hill and Cedric Worth and directed by Robert Riskin, who also served as the screenwriter.
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Cast
- Grace Moore as Louise Fuller
- Cary Grant as Jimmy Hudson
- Marianne Woods as Hank Miller
- Jane Summers as Mrs. Hamilton
- Luis Perugini as Backstage Guest
- Jose Carlos as News Photographer
Director: Robert Riskin
Genre: Musical, romance
Theme
The theme of When You’re in Love revolves around the concept of a marriage of convenience between two contrasting characters, with Grace Moore's character, Louise Fuller, an Australian opera star, and Cary Grant's character, Jimmy Hudson, a vagabond American artist. The film explores their relationship as they navigate their way back to the United States, with humor, romance, and music playing a significant role in the storyline.
Reception
The reception for When You’re in Love (1937) was mixed. The Hollywood Reporter's original review praised the film, calling it a "signal triumph" for the lead actors, Grace Moore and Cary grant, and the director, Robert Riskin, who made his directorial debut with this film. The review highlighted the strong storyline and the sparkling dialogue written by Riskin, as well as the performances of the supporting cast, including Aline MacMahon, Henry Stephenson, Thomas Mitchell, Emma Dunn, and George Pearce.
However, some critics, like Graham Greene, criticized Grace Moore's acting, stating that her performance did not fit well with the comedic plot and writing. Despite these criticisms, When You’re in Love has been described as charming and entertaining, with a memorable performance by Cary Grant and a strong musical score.
Production Challenge
The production of When You’re in Love faced some challenges, particularly in the portrayal of the storyline involving an Australian opera star, Louise Fuller (played by Grace Moore), and an American artist, Jimmy Hudson (portrayed by Cary Grant). The plot centered around a marriage of convenience between these two characters to solve their respective issues in Mexico and the United States. Despite the challenges, the film was produced, written, and directed by Robert Riskin, marking his only directorial credit. Riskin was primarily known as a screenwriter collaborator of Frank Capra in several notable films.
Additionally, Cary Grant's role in When You’re in Love was significant as it was his first film after leaving Paramount Studios. This transition marked a milestone in his career as he began freelancing with studios like RKO and Columbia for the next fifteen years or so.
The film's plot has been described as bordering on the silly, with Grace Moore's character inspired by real-life Australian opera singer Marjorie Lawrence. The movie featured a mix of opera and concert performances by Grace Moore, along with contributions from Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. Notably, the film is remembered for its rendition of "Minnie the Moocher," adding a unique touch to its musical elements.
Trivia & Fun Fact
Cast and Crew: The film starred Grace Moore as Louise Fuller and Cary Grant as Jimmy Hudson, with Robert Riskin directing the movie. Louise Brooks also made an uncredited appearance as one of the dancers in a musical sequence near the end of the film.
International Titles: The film was exhibited under various titles in different countries, such as "Preludio de amor" in Puerto Rico, "Le Cœur en fête" in Algeria, "Sérénade" in Austria, and "Ma olen armunud" in Estonia, among others.
Critical Reception: Despite mixed reviews, the film was popular and seen as a worthy successor to Grace Moore's success in "One Night of love." The Hollywood Reporter praised the film as a triumph for Grace Moore, Cary Grant, and Robert Riskin, highlighting its substantial story and direction.
Box Office Success: When You’re in Love had successful runs in various cities like New York City, Baltimore, Seattle, Detroit, and Atlanta. The film was held over for multiple weeks due to high demand for seats, indicating its popularity among audiences.
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