Leslie Howard and Bette Davis who even got their notices in The Petrified Forest after everyone stopped raving about Humphrey Bogart were teamed for a second time in one of the best screwball comedies of the Thirties. It's Love I'm After casts the two of them as an ever bickering stage couple who just can't quite get to the altar, mainly because of Howard's straying ways. It's pretty obvious at least to me that the pair are playing a version of Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne. Notice how similar the chemistry between Davis and Howard is and compare it to the only theatrical film the Lunts did, The Guardsman.
Olivia DeHavilland plays an eager fan who Davis catches in Howard's dressing room after one performance. That's just one would be groupie too many and she's had it with him personally and professionally. Then Olivia's boyfriend Patric Knowles shows up and wants Howard for a personal engagement. He invites Howard to spend the weekend with him at DeHavilland's family. The idea being for Howard to behave beastly with the family in the hope that boorish behavior will cure DeHavilland of her infatuation.
Off goes Howard with faithful valet Eric Blore and that starts everything. Let's just say that Olivia takes a lot of convincing and for Leslie the flesh is most weak.
Director Archie Mayo did a fine job with the cast Warner Brothers assembled. As he was one of Warner Brothers contract directors he was not given his due here. In fact I think It's Love I'm After would be better known if someone like Leo McCarey or George Cukor had directed it. But it's hard to see how it wold have been directed better.
Best in the cast is poor suffering Eric Blore who decides to use his talent for bird mimicry to help give Howard the high sign when he's with DeHavilland. Of course her family has an Aviary and how could poor Blore know? The results are hysterical.
It's Love I'm After is a real comedy gem not to be missed.
Olivia DeHavilland plays an eager fan who Davis catches in Howard's dressing room after one performance. That's just one would be groupie too many and she's had it with him personally and professionally. Then Olivia's boyfriend Patric Knowles shows up and wants Howard for a personal engagement. He invites Howard to spend the weekend with him at DeHavilland's family. The idea being for Howard to behave beastly with the family in the hope that boorish behavior will cure DeHavilland of her infatuation.
Off goes Howard with faithful valet Eric Blore and that starts everything. Let's just say that Olivia takes a lot of convincing and for Leslie the flesh is most weak.
Director Archie Mayo did a fine job with the cast Warner Brothers assembled. As he was one of Warner Brothers contract directors he was not given his due here. In fact I think It's Love I'm After would be better known if someone like Leo McCarey or George Cukor had directed it. But it's hard to see how it wold have been directed better.
Best in the cast is poor suffering Eric Blore who decides to use his talent for bird mimicry to help give Howard the high sign when he's with DeHavilland. Of course her family has an Aviary and how could poor Blore know? The results are hysterical.
It's Love I'm After is a real comedy gem not to be missed.