Simply Perfect

Pretty Good

Awesome Movie

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Charming, college-educated Ross Alexander (as Bill McAllister) has everything going for him except a job. His wealthy uncle Joseph Cawthorn (as Fred Schultz) likes his only heir, but is tired of paying Mr. Alexander's bills. When Alexander charges an expensive engagement ring to his account, tongue-tied Uncle Cawthorn cuts him off. The ring is for pretty blonde Anita Louise (as Hazel Robinson), but she has an offer from another suitor; responsible Richard "Dick" Purcell (as Randolph "Doc" Jenkins) is also preferred by Ms. Louise's parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart (as John "Jackie Boy" and Ella Robinson)...Alexander decides to use flattery to his advantage...What makes this fine adaptation of Barry Conners' Broadway success "Applesauce" (1925) work so well is the use of flattery for something not as sinister as the clever trickster in Aesop's fables; with an especially engaging performance, a smooth-talking Alexander keeps you on his side. The empathetic moment when Alexander seems to accept his loss, and pauses outside her home, is a highlight. Louise is irresistible, with her eavesdropping and next scene with Alexander very well-played. Support from others is excellent, and you get a chance to see future favorite June Lockhart's parents acting together (as Mr. and Mrs. John Robinson).******** Brides Are Like That (3/22/36) William McGann ~ Ross Alexander, Anita Louise, Joseph Cawthorn, Gene Lockhart

Here's a nifty little vintage "rom-com" from Warner Brothers' B-unit. Starring the affable wiseacre Ross Alexander and lovely Anita Louise, Brides Are Like That provides a few chuckles and a more than pleasant experience.Like so many 1930's romances, it's based on a play, and this one is from about a dozen years earlier entitled, "Applesauce," which refers to an extended metaphor used throughout. The fairly standard plot involves a love triangle between the two leads and stodgy Dick Purcell, who plays an M.D. with designs on Louise. Alexander portrays a charming loafer who'd rather golf than work, and the girl must choose between the two, with the Lockharts as her parents pushing her into marriage with Purcell.In typical Warner Brothers style, the exceedingly clever dialog moves at a crisp, almost rapid-fire, pace which enlivens what could easily have become a set-bound and ponderous experience for the audience. The characters are all certainly quirky -- almost foreshadowing the later You Can't Take It With You.I find Ross Alexander to be a very like-able screen presence always, and here he really demonstrates a lot of potential as a comic leading man, in the way of contemporaries like George Burns or Bob Hope. He's looks great, without being too conventionally handsome, and really seems like a guy that both men and women would respond to. And Anita Louise obviously is stunningly beautiful, without any bad angle at which to be photographed.All told, Brides Are Like That does its source material proud, and provides slightly over an hour's worth of frivolity and amusement.

The title of Brides Are Like That is a misleading one since the plot of the film turns on the behavior of the potential groom Ross Alexander. Potential bride Anita Louise is expecting certain behaviors out of Ross that he seems incapable of fulfilling.Louise's parents are Gene and Kathleen Lockhart and Gene is acting in the typical Eugene Palette way with concern about his daughter getting hooked up with a bum. It bothers Joseph Cawthorn who is Alexander's uncle and only relative that the young man won't just go out and work and give up his Bohemian ways. Remember this is the Great Depression and attitudes like that are understandable. In these Thirties comedies there is always a Ralph Bellamy part and in this case it's played by Dick Purcell. Someone halfway decent definitely could have taken Louise away from Alexander, but Purcell is such a sanctimonious drip that no wonder she prefers Alexander to him.The main fault with Brides Are Like That is Alexander's character is just a little too Bohemian. And I can't believe there wasn't another alternative out there than Purcell.Still the film has its amusing moments, mostly provided by Dick Purcell.

Made a couple years into the movie code enforcement, we'll have to keep those expectations in check. About this time, the plays were all turned into movies, and a lot was lost in translation. Lots of FAST talking. Anita Louise is Hazel. Watch for real husband and wife team Gene and Kathleen Lockhart in this one. Ross Alexander is the dashing lover- boy Bill McAllister, who is all over Hazel. Alexander and his second wife both committed suicide by gunshot, acc to Wikipedia.org and IMDb, which is pretty freaky....because... in "Brides Are Like That", he ACTUALLY SAYS " Cheer up, honey. I'm not going to shoot myself" when Hazel turns down his marriage proposal. Truth is stranger than fiction. Dick Purcell is Randoph Jenkins, to whom she has promised herself. Written by Barry Conners, who had also written a couple of the Charlie Chans. Directed by William McGann who worked in various positions in the silents. It's OK... Best performances here were by Joe Crehan and Gene Lockhart the costume party dance. Looks like this was remade as "Always A Bride" with George Reeves, the original Superman; haven't seen that one; will have to try to catch it.