I Was a Male War Bride (1949)

I Was a Male War Bride
Directed by Howard Hawks
Written by Charles Lederer, Leonard Spigelgass, and Hagar Wilde; story by Henri Rochard
1949/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] Capt. Henri Rochard: My name is Rochard. You’ll think I’m a bride but actually I’m a husband. There’ll be a moment or two of confusion but, if we all keep our heads, everything will be fine.[/box]

This has a one-joke “idiot plot” and the stars seem a bit oddly cast but it’s entertaining for all that.

Henri Rochard (Cary Grant) has but one mission remaining before he is decommissioned from the French military.  He is miffed to find that he will be spending it in the company of Lt. Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan) of the U.S. Army, The two have locked horns on their previous outings together.

Rochard has been assigned to go to a German town to see if a scientist who has been grinding lenses for the black market is willing to go legit for the French army.  This seems like a no-brainter but the trip is fraught with difficulties.  The two are forced to journey in a motorcycle with side-car that only Catherine is allowed to drive.  Then the road is closed and they appropriate a small row boat to travel down stream.  On arrival, there are some suggestive misunderstandings when Henri breaks off the door handle inside Catherine’s bedroom, he is arrested as a black-marketeer, etc.  Naturally on the way home from this disastrous affair, Henri and Catherine discover they are in love and decide to marry.

It is then that their troubles really start.  Catherine is being demobilized as well and they need to get a visa for Henri in short order.  The only one that seems suitable is under the law applying to “war brides”.  Although everyone who actually looks into this promptly discovers that the law applies to spouses of both sexes, this procedure comically delays the couple’s wedding night and forces Henri into drag at various points.

It seems like Hawks would like to get back to his screwball comedy roots, but the script is just not wacky or funny enough for him to succeed.  Grant makes absolutely no attempt to appear French which is probably a very good thing.  Still, a couple of hours with him and Ann Sheridan is a fine way to while away an afternoon.

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