Grounds for Marriage
Encyclopedia
Grounds for Marriage is a 1951
American
romantic comedy film
directed by Robert Z. Leonard
. Written and produced by Samuel Marx
, the film stars Van Johnson
and Kathryn Grayson
.
, Ina is bothered with a sore throat and calls Dr. Young. Lincoln, who is replacing Dr. Young that night, suspects that Ina is faking. However, when he examines her, he diagnoses a tropic disease she had possibly got in South America.
Ina ignores his diagnose and performs that night without any problems. The next morning, however, she is suddenly unable to speak. She goes to see Dr. Young, who diagnoses functional euphonia, a speaking disorder caused by shocking news. Young advises psychiatric help and tells Lincoln that a new love interest for Ina could solve the problem. Ina is assigned as Lincoln's client, much to Agnes' annoyance. Although Lincoln assures Agnes several times he has no feelings for his ex-wife, she remains suspicious of his connection with Ina.
Lincoln contacts his friend Chris Bartlett, hoping he will be able to romance Ina. He sets up a date between the two, but Ina shows no interest in Chris, only able to think of Lincoln. Later that night, Ina is able to break through Lincoln's wall, convincing him to spend the night with her. They enjoy a dinner at a restaurant where they are spotted by some of Agnes' friends. On their way back home, Ina again attempts to seduce him. Although Lincoln does not reply to her, he seems to have softened up. That night, Lincoln is bothered with a nightmare in which Ina is killed.
When he wakes up, he realizes he still loves his ex-wife. He goes to the room where she is staying to hug her, when Agnes and Chris suddenly come in. Agnes, feeling betrayed, breaks off the engagement, despite Lincoln's attempts to explain the situation. Ina, who had got back her voice when Lincoln softened up, announces she is fed up with the love triangle as well and storms out. She soon returns, however, and is told by Chris that Lincoln is bothered with functional euphonia too. He regains his voice to tell Ina he loves her and, in the end, they kiss.
.
Robert Walker was cast as well, but he was eventually replaced by Van Johnson
. It was eventually decided to assign Kathryn Grayson
opposite him in her first non-singing role. It was Johnson and Grayson's first film together.
The film's operatic sequences were staged by Vladimir Rosing
.
, distracting people from the Korean War
. The film was generally received mildly, attracting only little attention and earning only little money. Nevertheless, Johnson and Grayson reprised their roles in a 1952 broadcast for Lux Radio Theater
.
1951 in film
The year 1951 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Sweden - May Britt is scouted by Italian film-makers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:...
American
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
directed by Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Zigler Leonard was an American film director, actor, producer and screenwriter.He was born in Chicago, Illinois...
. Written and produced by Samuel Marx
Samuel Marx
Samuel Marx was an American film producer, screenwriter and book author.-Life:...
, the film stars Van Johnson
Van Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
and Kathryn Grayson
Kathryn Grayson
Kathryn Grayson was an American actress and operatic soprano singer.From the age of twelve, Grayson trained as an opera singer. She was under contract to MGM by the early 1940s, soon establishing a career principally through her work in musicals...
.
Plot
Ina Massine is an opera diva who divorced throat specialist Dr. Lincoln I. Bartlett three years ago. Nowadays, she regrets this decision and attempts to win back his affection. Lincoln, however, is engaged to Agnes Oglethorpe Young, the beautiful young daughter of his mentor Dr. Carleton Radwin Young. Nevertheless, Ina is determined to reconcile with Lincoln and grabs every chance on seducing him. Lincoln remains loyal to his fiancée, though, and soon grows irritated by Ina's attempts to impress him. On night of the premiere of her latest opera La BohèmeLa bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
, Ina is bothered with a sore throat and calls Dr. Young. Lincoln, who is replacing Dr. Young that night, suspects that Ina is faking. However, when he examines her, he diagnoses a tropic disease she had possibly got in South America.
Ina ignores his diagnose and performs that night without any problems. The next morning, however, she is suddenly unable to speak. She goes to see Dr. Young, who diagnoses functional euphonia, a speaking disorder caused by shocking news. Young advises psychiatric help and tells Lincoln that a new love interest for Ina could solve the problem. Ina is assigned as Lincoln's client, much to Agnes' annoyance. Although Lincoln assures Agnes several times he has no feelings for his ex-wife, she remains suspicious of his connection with Ina.
Lincoln contacts his friend Chris Bartlett, hoping he will be able to romance Ina. He sets up a date between the two, but Ina shows no interest in Chris, only able to think of Lincoln. Later that night, Ina is able to break through Lincoln's wall, convincing him to spend the night with her. They enjoy a dinner at a restaurant where they are spotted by some of Agnes' friends. On their way back home, Ina again attempts to seduce him. Although Lincoln does not reply to her, he seems to have softened up. That night, Lincoln is bothered with a nightmare in which Ina is killed.
When he wakes up, he realizes he still loves his ex-wife. He goes to the room where she is staying to hug her, when Agnes and Chris suddenly come in. Agnes, feeling betrayed, breaks off the engagement, despite Lincoln's attempts to explain the situation. Ina, who had got back her voice when Lincoln softened up, announces she is fed up with the love triangle as well and storms out. She soon returns, however, and is told by Chris that Lincoln is bothered with functional euphonia too. He regains his voice to tell Ina he loves her and, in the end, they kiss.
Cast
- Van JohnsonVan JohnsonVan Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
as Dr. Lincoln I. Bartlett - Kathryn GraysonKathryn GraysonKathryn Grayson was an American actress and operatic soprano singer.From the age of twelve, Grayson trained as an opera singer. She was under contract to MGM by the early 1940s, soon establishing a career principally through her work in musicals...
as Ina Massine - Paula RaymondPaula RaymondPaula Raymond was an American model and actress.In 1950, she was put under contract by MGM, where she played opposite such leading men as Cary Grant and Dick Powell...
as Agnes Oglethorpe Young - Barry SullivanBarry Sullivan (actor)Barry Sullivan was an American movie actor who appeared in over 100 movies from the 1930s to the 1980s.Born in New York City, Sullivan fell into acting when in college playing semi-pro football...
as Chris Bartlett - Reginald OwenReginald OwenJohn Reginald Owen was a British character actor. He was known for his many roles in British and American movies and later in television programs.-Personal:...
as Dely Delacorte - Lewis StoneLewis StoneLewis Shepard Stone was an American actor.Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, son of Bertrand Stone and Philena Heald Ball. Stone's hair grew gray by the time he was twenty. He fought in the Spanish-American War, then returned to a career as a writer. He soon began acting...
as Dr. Carleton Radwin Young - Richard HagemanRichard HagemanRichard Hageman was a Dutch-born American conductor, pianist, composer, and actor.- Biography :...
as Dr. Engelstaat - Richard AndersonRichard AndersonRichard Norman Anderson is an American actor in film and television, known to TV audiences as Steve Austin's and Jaime Sommers' boss, Oscar Goldman, in both The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman TV series and their three subsequent TV movies: The Return of the Six-Million-Dollar Man...
as Tommy
Production
The film was initially meant to be a vehicle for June AllysonJune Allyson
June Allyson was an American film and television actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was a major MGM contract star. Allyson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in Too Young to Kiss . From 1959–1961, she hosted and occasionally starred in her own CBS anthology...
.
Robert Walker was cast as well, but he was eventually replaced by Van Johnson
Van Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
. It was eventually decided to assign Kathryn Grayson
Kathryn Grayson
Kathryn Grayson was an American actress and operatic soprano singer.From the age of twelve, Grayson trained as an opera singer. She was under contract to MGM by the early 1940s, soon establishing a career principally through her work in musicals...
opposite him in her first non-singing role. It was Johnson and Grayson's first film together.
The film's operatic sequences were staged by Vladimir Rosing
Vladimir Rosing
Vladimir Sergeyevich Rosing , aka Val Rosing, was a Russian-born operatic tenor and stage director who spent most of his professional career in England and the United States...
.
Reception
Grounds for Marriage was meant to be an escapist fareEscapism
Escapism is mental diversion by means of entertainment or recreation, as an "escape" from the perceived unpleasant or banal aspects of daily life...
, distracting people from the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The film was generally received mildly, attracting only little attention and earning only little money. Nevertheless, Johnson and Grayson reprised their roles in a 1952 broadcast for Lux Radio Theater
Lux Radio Theater
Lux Radio Theater, a long-run classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network ; CBS and NBC . Initially, the series adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films. These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences...
.