1943 – Jean Arthur
The More the Merrier
Hmmm… How to say this delicately… This is the movie that made me dislike Jean Arthur. I’m not saying she was an awful actress. I’m just saying she played an annoying character. And as far as I can tell, that is partially due to the annoying script, but it is most certainly the fault of the actress, as well. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this film, and there are things about the plot I neither liked the first time, nor did my opinion change this time. Let me explain.
Jean Arthur was fine, for the most part. I’ll say that again – for the most part, she was fine. She looked beautiful, she understood that she was in a romantic comedy, not a serious drama, and she played it all with an easy air about her that was attractive. And she knew how to act the more serious parts. In fact, I’ve seen her in other movies that had a similar feel, and she was just fine. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington comes to mind. But the way this movie ended just stuck in my craw.
So she falls in love with Joel McCrea’s Mr. Carter. I mean, who wouldn’t? She breaks her engagement with Mr. Pendergast. Again, who wouldn’t? And she gets married to Mr. Carter in a shotgun wedding so there wouldn’t be a scandal that would ruin her reputation. So now she’s married to the right man, and she should be happy, but she’s not, and the movie isn’t exactly clear on why. She is sobbing in the most ridiculous way. She isn’t exactly crying. She’s just making this ear-splitting, droning, fakey, whining sound with no real point, like the noise a two-year-old makes to get the attention of a parent.
And is it because she thinks he only married her to save her honor and her reputation? It shouldn’t be. She already knows he actually loves her. He already said so in their bedtime conversation. Is it because he has official military orders to go to Africa the next day? It shouldn’t be. She knew that going into it. So I’m confused as to why she’s whining, and it seems that she is too. She just stands there keening inarticulately. And I know this is supposed to be a silly comedy, but it seemed that Miss Arthur was confused about her motivation in that final scene, and I was, too. So Best Actress? I don’t think so.