The Affairs of Martha
Encyclopedia
The Affairs of Martha is a 1942 romantic comedy film directed by Jules Dassin
. A young maid, Marsha Hunt, falls in love with Jeff Sommerfield and the two marry on impulse before he leaves for an anthropological trip. Before he leaves, he asks her to get the marriage annulled, but she does not do so. While he is away she takes night classes to improve her education and make herself more attractive to Jeff. As a project she writes a book about the lives of the hired help and finds a publisher. Leaked news about the book puts the local wealthy families into a tizzy, and there is a comic portrayal of the conflicting perspectives of the working class maids and the upper class families that employ them. When Jeff returns (thinking he is divorced) he brings his new fiancee with him, leading to a number of comedic plot twists.
Jules Dassin
Julius "Jules" Dassin , was an American film director, with Jewish-Russian origins. He was a subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, and subsequently moved to France where he revived his career.-Early life:...
. A young maid, Marsha Hunt, falls in love with Jeff Sommerfield and the two marry on impulse before he leaves for an anthropological trip. Before he leaves, he asks her to get the marriage annulled, but she does not do so. While he is away she takes night classes to improve her education and make herself more attractive to Jeff. As a project she writes a book about the lives of the hired help and finds a publisher. Leaked news about the book puts the local wealthy families into a tizzy, and there is a comic portrayal of the conflicting perspectives of the working class maids and the upper class families that employ them. When Jeff returns (thinking he is divorced) he brings his new fiancee with him, leading to a number of comedic plot twists.
Cast
- Marsha HuntMarsha Hunt (actress)Marsha Hunt is an American film, theater, and television actress who was blacklisted by Hollywood movie studio executives in the 1950s.-Career:...
- Martha Linddstrom - Richard Carlson - Jeff Sommerfield
- Marjorie MainMarjorie MainMarjorie Main was an American character actress, mainly at MGM, perhaps best known for her role as Ma Kettle in a series of ten Ma and Pa Kettle movies.-Early life and career:...
- Mrs. McKessic - Virginia WeidlerVirginia WeidlerVirginia Weidler was an American child actress, popular in Hollywood films during the 1930s and 1940s.-Early life and career:...
- Mirand Sommerfield - Spring ByingtonSpring ByingtonSpring Byington was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of December Bride. She was a key MGM contract player appearing in films from the 1930s through the 1960s.-Early life:Byington was born Spring Dell Byington in Colorado Springs,...
- Sophia Sommerfield - Allyn JoslynAllyn JoslynAllyn Joslyn was an American stage, film and television actor.-Biography:Allyn Joslyn was born in Milford, Pennsylvania, the son of a mining engineer...
- Joel Archer - Frances DrakeFrances Drake (actor)Frances Drake was an American actress, is best known for playing Eponine in Les Misérables .-Life and career:Born in New York City, her parents moved to Canada when she was four...
- Sylvia Norwood - Barry NelsonBarry NelsonBarry Nelson was an American actor, noted as the first actor to portray Ian Fleming's secret agent James Bond.-Early life:...
- Danny O'Brien - Melville CooperMelville CooperGeorge Melville Cooper , best known as Melville Cooper, was a British stage, film and television actor. Among his roles are the cowardly Sheriff of Nottingham in The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring Errol Flynn, and Mr...
- Dr. Clarence Sommerfield - Inez Cooper - Mrs. Jacell
- Sara HadenSara HadenSara Haden was a character actress in Hollywood films of the 1930s through the 1950s.She was born Sarah Haden on November 17, 1899 in Galveston, Texas. Haden was the daughter of another character actress, Charlotte Walker, who was active in silent films and early talkies...
- Mrs. Justin I. Peacock - Margaret HamiltonMargaret HamiltonMargaret Hamilton was an American film actress known for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz...
- Guinevere - Ernest TruexErnest TruexErnest Truex was an American actor of stage and film.-Career:...
- Llewellyn Castle - Cecil CunninghamCecil CunninghamCecil Cunningham was an American film and stage actress. She appeared in more than 80 movies between 1929 and 1946...
- Mrs. Llewellyn Castle - William B. DavidsonWilliam B. DavidsonWilliam B. Davidson was an American film actor. He attended Columbia University where he played football. He became a popular football star. This fame eventually led to his foray into motion pictures after he had spent some time as a lawyer...
- Homer Jacell