I Was a Male War Bride
Encyclopedia
I Was a Male War Bride is a 1949
comedy film directed by Howard Hawks
and starring Cary Grant
and Ann Sheridan
.
This film was based on I was an Alien Spouse of Female Military Personnel Enroute to the United States Under Public Law 271 of the Congress, a biography of Henri Rochard, a Belgian
who married an American nurse.
It is the story of French Army officer Henri Rochard (Grant) who must pass as a war bride in order to go back to the United States
with Women's Army Corps
officer Catherine Gates (Sheridan). The film is noted as being a low key screwball comedy
with a famous final sequence featuring Cary Grant impersonating a female army nurse.
, French Army Captain Henri Rochard (Cary Grant
) is given the task of recruiting a highly-skilled lens maker, Schindler (Martin Miller). He is assigned American WAVES
Lieutenant Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan
) as his chauffeur, much to their mutual discomfort (arising from several prior clashes). The only available transportation is a motorcycle, which due to army regulations, only Cathy is allowed to drive; Henri has to ride in the sidecar
. After several mishaps, the constantly quarreling couple arrive at their destination, Bad Nauheim
.
At the hotel, bothered by back pain, Cathy warily accepts Henri's offer of a back rub. When she falls asleep, he tries to leave her room, but discovers that the door handle has fallen off, trapping him inside. He spends an uncomfortable night in a chair. In the morning, Cathy refuses to believe his story. Unknown to him, the innkeeper's wife has replaced the knob, so, when he tries to demonstrate that the door will not open, it does. Eventually, the innkeeper's wife explains everything to Cathy, but not before Henri falls off the roof.
Later, Henri goes undercover to search for Schindler, now working in the black market. He refuses to let Cathy help him. The black market is raided by the authorities, and he is rounded up with the rest. When he asks Cathy to vouch for his identity, she obeys his earlier orders not to reveal that she knows him. While he is in jail, she finds Schindler, who is happy to leave Germany and ply his trade in France. Later, she apologizes to a furious Henri, and by the time they return to Heidelberg, they have fallen in love.
Red tape
forces Cathy and Henri to get married in three different ceremonies, civil, army and church. Before they can consummate the marriage, Cathy is given orders to report back to headquarters to be shipped back to the United States in the morning. They subsequently learn that the only way Henri can get a visa to emigrate with her is under the War Bride Act as the spouse of a member of the expeditionary forces. After many misunderstandings, he is granted permission to accompany her, but circumstances and army regulations conspire to keep them from spending the night together.
When they try to board the ship, Navy sailors do not believe that Henri is a war "bride". He is forced to dress as a woman to get aboard. The deception works, but once underway, his disguise is discovered, and he is arrested. Cathy manages to straighten out the situation, and they finally have some privacy.
that developed into pneumonia
, suspending shooting for two weeks. Hawks broke out in unexplained hives throughout his body. Grant came down with hepatitis
complicated by jaundice
, and production was shut down for three months, until Grant recovered and regained around thirty pounds. King Donovan
, Charles B. Fitzsimons
, Robert Stevenson, and Otto Waldis all shot scenes for this film, but all of them were ultimately deleted.
1949 in film
The year 1949 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello...
comedy film directed by Howard Hawks
Howard Hawks
Howard Winchester Hawks was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of the classic Hollywood era...
and starring Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
and Ann Sheridan
Ann Sheridan
-Life and career:Born Clara Lou Sheridan in Denton, Texas on February 21, 1915, she was a student at the University of North Texas when her sister sent a photograph of her to Paramount Pictures. She subsequently entered and won a beauty contest, with part of her prize being a bit part in a...
.
This film was based on I was an Alien Spouse of Female Military Personnel Enroute to the United States Under Public Law 271 of the Congress, a biography of Henri Rochard, a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
who married an American nurse.
It is the story of French Army officer Henri Rochard (Grant) who must pass as a war bride in order to go back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Women's Army Corps
Women's Army Corps
The Women's Army Corps was the women's branch of the US Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943...
officer Catherine Gates (Sheridan). The film is noted as being a low key screwball comedy
Screwball Comedy
Screwball Comedy is an album by the Japanese band Soul Flower Union. The album found the band going into a simpler, harder-rocking direction, after several heavily world-music influenced albums.-Track listing:...
with a famous final sequence featuring Cary Grant impersonating a female army nurse.
Plot summary
In post-war GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, French Army Captain Henri Rochard (Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
) is given the task of recruiting a highly-skilled lens maker, Schindler (Martin Miller). He is assigned American WAVES
WAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
Lieutenant Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan
Ann Sheridan
-Life and career:Born Clara Lou Sheridan in Denton, Texas on February 21, 1915, she was a student at the University of North Texas when her sister sent a photograph of her to Paramount Pictures. She subsequently entered and won a beauty contest, with part of her prize being a bit part in a...
) as his chauffeur, much to their mutual discomfort (arising from several prior clashes). The only available transportation is a motorcycle, which due to army regulations, only Cathy is allowed to drive; Henri has to ride in the sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
. After several mishaps, the constantly quarreling couple arrive at their destination, Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim is a town in the Wetteraukreis district of Hesse state of Germany. , Bad Nauheim has a population of 30,365. The town is located approximately 35 kilometers north of Frankfurt am Main, on the east edge of the Taunus mountain range. It is a world-famous resort, noted for its salt...
.
At the hotel, bothered by back pain, Cathy warily accepts Henri's offer of a back rub. When she falls asleep, he tries to leave her room, but discovers that the door handle has fallen off, trapping him inside. He spends an uncomfortable night in a chair. In the morning, Cathy refuses to believe his story. Unknown to him, the innkeeper's wife has replaced the knob, so, when he tries to demonstrate that the door will not open, it does. Eventually, the innkeeper's wife explains everything to Cathy, but not before Henri falls off the roof.
Later, Henri goes undercover to search for Schindler, now working in the black market. He refuses to let Cathy help him. The black market is raided by the authorities, and he is rounded up with the rest. When he asks Cathy to vouch for his identity, she obeys his earlier orders not to reveal that she knows him. While he is in jail, she finds Schindler, who is happy to leave Germany and ply his trade in France. Later, she apologizes to a furious Henri, and by the time they return to Heidelberg, they have fallen in love.
Red tape
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
forces Cathy and Henri to get married in three different ceremonies, civil, army and church. Before they can consummate the marriage, Cathy is given orders to report back to headquarters to be shipped back to the United States in the morning. They subsequently learn that the only way Henri can get a visa to emigrate with her is under the War Bride Act as the spouse of a member of the expeditionary forces. After many misunderstandings, he is granted permission to accompany her, but circumstances and army regulations conspire to keep them from spending the night together.
When they try to board the ship, Navy sailors do not believe that Henri is a war "bride". He is forced to dress as a woman to get aboard. The deception works, but once underway, his disguise is discovered, and he is arrested. Cathy manages to straighten out the situation, and they finally have some privacy.
Production
The cast and crew suffered from a variety of illnesses. Sheridan contracted pleurisyPleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
that developed into pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, suspending shooting for two weeks. Hawks broke out in unexplained hives throughout his body. Grant came down with hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
complicated by jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae , and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia . This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid...
, and production was shut down for three months, until Grant recovered and regained around thirty pounds. King Donovan
King Donovan
King Donovan was an American film, stage, and television actor, as well as a film and television director.-Film:...
, Charles B. Fitzsimons
Charles B. Fitzsimons
Charles B. Fitzsimons was an Irish actor who emigrated to the United States, where he became a film producer after ending his acting career. Fitzsimons was the younger brother of famed actress Maureen O'Hara...
, Robert Stevenson, and Otto Waldis all shot scenes for this film, but all of them were ultimately deleted.
Cast
- Cary GrantCary GrantArchibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
as Capt. Henri Rochard - Ann SheridanAnn Sheridan-Life and career:Born Clara Lou Sheridan in Denton, Texas on February 21, 1915, she was a student at the University of North Texas when her sister sent a photograph of her to Paramount Pictures. She subsequently entered and won a beauty contest, with part of her prize being a bit part in a...
as Lt. Catherine Gates - Marion MarshallMarion Marshall (actress)Marion Marshall is an American actress.Marshall's first film appearances were in the 20th Century Fox films Gentleman's Agreement and Daisy Kenyon in 1947...
as Lt. Kitty Lawrence - Randy StuartRandy StuartRandy Stuart, born as Elizabeth Shaubell , was an American actress whose longest running role was as Louise Baker, the wife of the Cold War spy in the 26-episode adventure television series, Biff Baker, U.S.A., which aired on CBS, with Alan Hale, Jr., as the title character...
as Lt. Eloise Billings (Mae) - William Neff as Capt. Jack Rumsey
- Eugene Gericke as Tony Jowitt
- Ruben Wendorf as Innkeeper's Assistant
- Lester Sharpe as Walter
- John Whitney as Trumble
- Kenneth TobeyKenneth TobeyKenneth Tobey was an American stage, television, and film actor.-Early years:Born in Oakland, California, Tobey was headed for a law career when he first dabbled in acting at the University of California Little Theater...
as Seaman - Robert StevensonRobert StevensonRobert Stevenson may refer to:* Robert Stevenson , United States* Robert Stevenson , first head men's basketball coach at DePaul University...
as Lieutenant - Alfred Linder as Bartender
- David McMahonDavid McMahonDavid McMahon is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.McMahon played on the half forward flank and after being recruited from Preston he made his league debut in 1973. He retired in 1984 with 218 VFL games to his name which puts him at 7th on the all time list...
as Chaplain - Joe Haworth as Shore Patrol
- Gil Herman as Naval Officer
- Lily Kann as Innkeeper's Wife
- Harry LauterHarry LauterHerman Arthur "Harry" Lauter was an American character actor originally from White Plains, New York....
as Lieutenant - Alex Gerry as Waiter
- André CharlotAndré CharlotAndré Eugene Maurice Charlot was a French impresario known primarily for the highly successful musical revues he staged in London between 1912 and 1937...
as French Minister - Russ ConwayRuss Conway (actor)Russ Conway was a Canadian-American character actor who appeared on film and television between 1947 and 1975.-Early years:...
as Cmdr. Willis - Mike Mahoney as Sailor
- William McLean as Expectant GI
- Paul Hardtmuth as Burgomeister
- Barbara PerryBarbara PerryBarbara Mazzel Anne Perry MP, , an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Auburn for the Australian Labor Party since 2001. Perry is the Shadow Minister for Ageing, Shadow Minister for Disability Services, Shadow Minister for Family and Community...
as Tall WAC - William Pullen as Sergeant
- Otto Reichow
- Bill SelfBill SelfBill Self is an American college men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, where he led the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA national championship....
as Sergeant - John Serret as French Notary
- Martin Miller as Schindler
- William MurphyWilliam Murphy (actor)William “Bill” Murphy is an American actor active from the 1940s through the 1970s.The eccentric actor was a long-time friend of John Wayne and Robert Mitchum and spent many nights together with Elvis Presley and his guys from the Memphis Mafia, and regarded Hollywood as an open invitation to party...
as Sergeant - William Yetter, Jr. as German Policeman
- John ZillyJack ZillyJohn Lynus "Jack" Zilly was a former professional American football player who played end for six seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles....
as Shore Patrol - Kay Young as Maj. Prendergast