To round out our Powell/Loy film series, we feature 1941's "Love Crazy", a comedy about a man, who through a series of misunderstandings, is declared insane and must find an ingenious method of getting back with his wife. The supporting cast includes Gail Patrick, Jack Carson, Florence Bates, Sig Ruman, and Donald MacBride.
The film opens with Steve and Susan (Powell and Loy) celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary. They've got plans to dine at midnight, until Susan's meddling mother comes over and spoils things. She asks Steve to mail a letter for her.
While in the elevator, Steve bumps into an old flame. Unfortunately for Steve, things go downhill from there.
The elevator breaks down and they have to climb out through the roof, resulting in a very dangerous situation. Once safe, the lady takes Steve to her apartment and gives him a drink. A badly disheveled Steve returns to his own apartment and tries to explain things to his wife and mother-in-law.
It turns out that Susan has to go out for a few hours, and her mother hilariously hurts her ankle and has to stay put for the time being. Steve seeks a moment of peace and wanders out onto the terrace where he see his old girlfriend. They make plans to sneak away for a quick drink (Steve just wants to get away, the girlfriend has other plans). However, his mother-in-law overhears these plans. Sadly, she repeats them to Susan.
Susan unfortunately believes the worst, files for divorce, and disappears for two months. (A quick note about costumes here. The costume designer is unknown. Whoever they were, they did an outstanding job with Myrna Loy and Gail Patrick and their costumes. Just beautiful.)
Steve and Susan bump into each other at a party the day before the divorce is scheduled. "Is it unlucky for the groom to see the bride the night before the divorce?" Susan asks.
In a quick consultation with his lawyer (also at the party), Steve decides to act insane to get the divorce postponed. He immediately launches into being a teapot.
He later tries to set people free as Abraham Lincoln. He also tries to set hats free in the swimming pool, then decides he needs to set his mother-in-law free as well, sending her flying into the pool.
Steve does such a convincing job that he fails a test given by the Lunacy Commission and is sent off to an asylum. He makes a break for it in order to see Susan.
He disguises himself as Steve's sister from Saskatchewan and gains access to the apartment in that way. He makes Susan realize the misunderstanding all those months before (with a little unwilling help from his mother-in-law). And now Susan must take Steve's sister back to Saskatchewan so that the lawyer can straighten out all the lunacy business. Cast rundown:
William Powell..............................................Steve Ireland
Jack Carson.................................................Ward Willoughby
Florence Bates.............................................Mrs. Cooper
Sig Ruman...................................................Dr. Wuthering
Donald MacBride...........................................Pinky Grayson And that's all for Love Crazy. It's a very funny film. The parts where William Powell is trying to convince everyone he is crazy at the party are hysterical. Even more so is the part where he dresses as a woman and plays his own sister. As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember the posting rules.
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