Holy Matrimony

Monty Wooley is British artist Priam Farll in "Holy Matrimony" from 1943. Farll is a reclusive painter living in a remote area with his manservant, Henry Leek (Franklin Pangborn). The two return to London when Farll is told he is going to receive a knighthood. Leek, however, becomes ill with pneumonia and dies. When the physician mistakes him for Farll, Farll goes along with it and takes on Leek's identity. This way, he can avoid the knighthood ceremony, which he dreads.

Then Farll receives a letter from one Alice Chalice (Gracie Fields), a widow who has been in correspondence with Leek through a marriage bureau and is expecting to meet him. A complication.

That's a tame complication compared to what's coming. Leek, apparently, was already married (to Una O'Connor) and has two grown sons. She sues for bigamy. Farll and Chalice marry, and he continues to paint, but that causes problems too. His paintings are being sold as originals, but he was supposedly dead when they were painted.

Amusing film with wonderful performances and a good story. Wooley is great as a stubborn man who is determined to protect his privacy and hold onto the life he has. Gracie Fields gives a very straightforward, honest performance as the strong Alice. And Franklin Pangborn is his usual delightful self, though we see way too little of him.