‘The Extra the Merrier’ is Principally Marvelous 1943

George Stevens was a
director of numerous genres earlier than he went off to struggle: dramas, comedies, motion,
even an Astaire-Rogers musical. Stevens was a modified man after WWII, directing
a number of documentaries relating to the struggle’s atrocities. Submit-war, Stevens’ movie
output turned sporadic, with subject material that was all the time critical. Pre-war, Stevens
directed a number of comedy-dramas, together with the earlier 12 months’s The Speak of the City, with Arthur,
Ronald Colman, and Cary Grant. Stevens’ humanistic contact totally blossomed later in
I Keep in mind Mama and Shane, was evident even in his comedies,
making their romantic points particularly partaking.

The story of The Extra the Merrier is when Connie
Milligan (Jean Arthur) feels it’s her patriotic responsibility to hire out half of her residence.
What she would not rely on is getting old alpha male Benjamin Dingle (Charles Coburn)
charging his means in to her house and telling
her that he is the brand new renter. Not even a day in, he then sublets his room to
soldier Joe Carter (Joel McCrea), with out consulting Connie. Mr. Dingle naturally
performs matchmaker to those two younger people, so comedy and romance ensue. As
written, I didn’t take care of these introductory scenes with the pushy retiree,
who wouldn’t have gotten previous my entrance door.

I like previous motion pictures when the main girl is placing on chilly cream, throughout her totally  made-up face! Jean Arthur as Connie Milligan, in 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.”

Let me say that I am
not a fan of slapstick, so the primary half hour of The Extra the Merrier was excruciating for me. Whereas it’s expertly
plotted and carried out, the introduction of the three strong-willed characters
clashing, full with door slamming and misunderstandings, is difficult to take if
you are not keen on such antics.

Jean Arthur’s Connie reacts to the sounds of her male roomies “bonding!” From 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.”

Let me additionally confess
that I am a bit allergic to the charms of Jean Arthur. Sure, I respect her as a
expertise, each adept in comedy and drama. Arthur’s proper up there with Carole
Lombard as a supreme practitioner of screwball comedy. Her alternative in movies was
very good and she or he aged superbly onscreen. Born in 1900, she was no less than a half
a dozen years older than most of her contemporaries of the ’30s and her profession
sailed alongside by the half of the ’40s, and solely ended by her alternative. Given Jean Arthur’s reputation and high quality movies, I used to be shocked that The Extra the Merrier was Arthur’s solely Oscar-nominated efficiency!

Jean Arthur’s Connie unwinds by practising her dance strikes to some Latin music.  From 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.”

That stated, I discover Jean
Arthur laborious to take for the rationale most individuals love her, that cartoon voice that
goes proper by my head. It’s the identical motive I am unable to abide June Allyson,
Judy Holliday, and Melanie Griffith. Their voices could also be distinctive, however I discover
them irritating, particularly with their matching personas. When Arthur performs
officious sorts, like right here and the post-war A
Overseas Affair, she’s too good at it, to the purpose of obnoxiousness. Fortunately,
the scripts of The Extra the Merrier
and Billy Wilder’s A Overseas Affair
are three-dimensional sufficient to present her redeeming qualities. My aversion to
Jean Arthur was the primary motive that I’ve by no means watched The Extra the Merrier till this 12 months. And I can now say that I’m
glad I did!

Little does Jean Arthur’s Connie know that new tenant Joel McCrea is acquired the Latin groove, too! From George Stevens’ “The Extra the Merrier.”

I’ve had the
impression that Joel McCrea, whereas very fashionable in his time, was thought-about a
poor man’s Gary Cooper within the movie business. Whereas I’ve a tender spot for Coop,
I discover Joel McCrea’s naturalistic, no-nonsense method very interesting and
trendy. And he would not have that halting means of talking like Cooper, who
typically seemed like English wasn’t his first language!

Right here, Joel’s soldier,
who’s solely in DC for every week earlier than being shipped out, is comically deadpan at
first, however is quickly affable towards Coburn’s Mr. Dingle. And natch, it is love at
first sight for sensible soldier Joe and much more sensible Connie, who has
her complete life mapped out. 

Joel McCrea is in his
prime right here and there are a number of scenes of his exhibiting off his effective tan type,
which he wasn’t shy about in his heyday. Arthur is lovingly photographed, stylishly
dressed, and appears most interesting. As Connie and Joe let down their mutual
guard and fall in love, the film actually comes alive for me. 

Joel McCrea, tan and trim, as soldier Joe Carter, in 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.”

Charles Coburn is at
his most irascible as Mr. Dingle and he is great. A high character actor of
the period, Coburn may very well be simply as nice as a villain, just like the incestuous uncle
to Bette Davis’ vixen from In This Our
Life or the chilly physician who needlessly amputates Ronald Reagan’s legs in Kings Row. Or he may very well be extremely amusing,
such because the blustering Binky in Gentleman
Want Blondes or right here, because the meddling retiree in The Extra the Merrier. Coburn received a Greatest Supporting Actor Oscar as Mr. Dingle. 

Even Charles Coburn’s Mr. Dingle will get within the dance spirit, in 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.”

After a primary half
hour of slapstick, it’s the Washington DC ambiance, the celebs’ tender
romance, and humorous supporting solid that make The Extra the Merrier actually fulfilling. The
breakfast scene, the place Connie and Joe not so subtly query one another, with
undesirable interjections from Mr. Dingle, is sharply humorous. The rooftop scene is
my favourite, providing an enthralling war-time scene of assorted tenants stress-free and
socializing. Connie knits and has her diary together with her, whereas the 2 guys learn a
Dick Tracy cartoon strip to one another. Since Connie has a protected fiancee, she and
Joe’s romancing is furtive. First, with the scene the place they attempt to go on a non-date
date, then their residence stoop wooing, and ending with pillow speak by a
bed room wall—sweetly humorous and genuinely romantic. The climatic cab scene, with
all of the characters involved hashing issues out is nice enjoyable. The one
factor that mars the ending is Arthur’s comically faux crying that’s grating,
solely topped many years later by Diane Keaton breakup bawling in One thing’s Gotta Give.

I like this rooftop scene, with Connie, Mr. Dingle, and Joe hanging out with the different tenants, in 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.”

Sure, Connie has a dork
boyfriend. And sure, Joe has to go on army task in Africa. By the
finale, they marry and can anticipate each other. The Extra the Merrier is a wartime fairytale, with everybody rubbing
elbows and extra, is nice enjoyable and depicted with real feeling, because of its
nice stars and director.

Jean Arthur’s Connie & Joel McCrea’s Joe, married ultimately, however not with no few  minor hitches, in 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.”

My have a look at Jean Arthur
in a really comparable position, in Billy Wilder’s post-war comedy/drama, A Overseas Affair: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2023/05/billy-wilders-adult-foreign-affair-1948.html

And right here’s my tackle
Joel McCrea, simply effective as Alfred Hitchcock’s Overseas Correspondent: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2025/01/hitchcocks-fine-foreign-correspondent.html

One other beautiful scene from 1943’s “The Extra the Merrier.” Joe & Connie pour their hearts out whereas in single beds, by a bed room wall. Joel McCrea & Jean Arthur make a effective romantic group right here.