A quickie knock-off of My Man Godrey (1936) and reunion of director Norman McLeod with several Topper (1937) stars, Merrily We Live is an OK comedy with bursts of brilliance thanks to a top-notch cast. I'm not sure why McLeod directed so many comedies; he never seems to gets the pacing right. In this film as well as the first two Topper films, there always seem to be those long dull stretches while you just wait for someone to do something.
Constance Bennett stars as the rich girl who lives with her daffy parents--Billie Burke and Clarence Kolb--along with her siblings--Bonita Granville and Tom Brown-- and some servants--Alan Mowbray, Patsy Kelly, and Marjorie Kane.
The mother is always taking in tramps (forgotten men) and making them butlers or chauffeurs. Along comes Brian Aherne, whom she assumes is a bum and makes her chauffeur. Of course the sparks fly between Bennett and Aherne, especially when a dinner guest drops out (leaving 13) and Aherne filling in at the table. Far too many similarities between this film and My Man Godfrey, including a cold-water dowsing of the female star.
Merrily We Live boasts some really good performances by the entire cast. especially Billie Burke (Oscar nomination), Kolb, Mowbray, Granville, and Brian Aherne. Late in the film, Ann Dvorak and Marjorie Rambeau show up at the dinner party, as does Willie Best in a very tacked-on scene. Philip Reed is the rejected boyfriend.
Despite 5 Oscar nominations, I had always heard this film was a flop. Hard to say. Bennett is loose and funny and was still a major star, and she gets top billing alone. Certainly worth a look just to see Billie Burke as her silliest!
Constance Bennett stars as the rich girl who lives with her daffy parents--Billie Burke and Clarence Kolb--along with her siblings--Bonita Granville and Tom Brown-- and some servants--Alan Mowbray, Patsy Kelly, and Marjorie Kane.
The mother is always taking in tramps (forgotten men) and making them butlers or chauffeurs. Along comes Brian Aherne, whom she assumes is a bum and makes her chauffeur. Of course the sparks fly between Bennett and Aherne, especially when a dinner guest drops out (leaving 13) and Aherne filling in at the table. Far too many similarities between this film and My Man Godfrey, including a cold-water dowsing of the female star.
Merrily We Live boasts some really good performances by the entire cast. especially Billie Burke (Oscar nomination), Kolb, Mowbray, Granville, and Brian Aherne. Late in the film, Ann Dvorak and Marjorie Rambeau show up at the dinner party, as does Willie Best in a very tacked-on scene. Philip Reed is the rejected boyfriend.
Despite 5 Oscar nominations, I had always heard this film was a flop. Hard to say. Bennett is loose and funny and was still a major star, and she gets top billing alone. Certainly worth a look just to see Billie Burke as her silliest!